IDENTIFICATION OF A CIS-ACTING ELEMENT WITHIN THE HERPESVIRUS SAIMIRIORF-6 PROMOTER THAT IS RESPONSIVE TO THE HVS.R TRANSACTIVATOR

We have previously demonstrated that two distinct transcripts are prod uced from ORF 50, the major transcriptional activating gene of herpesv irus saimiri. The products of these transcripts transactivate the dela yed-early ORF 6 promoter, though to different degrees. Deletion analys is demonstrated that the ORF 50 responsive elements are contained in a 132 bp fragment situated 127-259 bp from the transcription initiation site within the ORF 6 promoter. This fragment conferred ORF 50-respon siveness on an enhancerless simian virus 40. Gel retardation analysis further mapped the responsive elements to a 38 bp fragment.