CELL-TYPE-SPECIFIC INDUCTION OF THE UL9 GENE OF HSV-1 BY CELL SIGNALING PATHWAY

The origin-binding protein, encoded by the UL9 gene of herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1), has the properties of an initiator of DNA replication . In this communication, we report that the UL9 promoter contains a cA MP-response element (CRE). Transient expression analyses show that dib utyryl cyclic AMP, known to elevate intracellular cAMP level, can indu ce the UL9 promoter in a rat pheochromocytoma cell line (PC12) but not in a non-neuronal human cell line (HeLa). Interestingly, a transcript ion factor that increases expression of a neuropeptide gene by interac ting with CRE can also activate the UL9 promoter independent of cell t ype. Thus, our data suggest that extracellular stimuli, capable of int eracting with the signaling pathway in neuronal cells, can activate UL 9 gene expression, and different proteins may regulate UL9 expression in different cell types. (C) 1994 Academic Press, Inc.