Mutational analysis of the J recombination signal sequence binding protein(RBP-J)/Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen 2 (EBNA2) and RBP-J/Notch interaction
Kp. Fuchs et al., Mutational analysis of the J recombination signal sequence binding protein(RBP-J)/Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen 2 (EBNA2) and RBP-J/Notch interaction, EUR J BIOCH, 268(17), 2001, pp. 4639-4646
Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen 2 (EBNA2) and the Notch protein both fun
ction within the nucleus as transcriptional adaptor proteins. EBNA2 plays a
key role during the immortalization of primary B-cells by Epstein-Barr vir
us (EBV). Notch proteins are involved in lymphomagenesis as well as in mult
iple cell fate decisions during tissue differentiation and development. Bot
h, EBNA2 and Notch interact with the DNA binding protein RBP-J and thereby
gain access to the promoter of their target genes. In order to identify reg
ions within the J recombination signal sequence binding protein (RBP-J), th
at are relevant for either the Notch or the EBNA2 interaction, we have perf
ormed a mutational analysis of RBP-J. A library of RBP-J mutants was screen
ed by a reverse two-hybrid system for alleles that fail to bind to either E
BNA2 or Notch. The sequence analysis of these alleles reveals that a limite
d and particularly distinct number of amino-acid positions are relevant for
either interaction only. Given the important role of RBP-J in B-cell immor
talization, the EBNA2/RBP-J protein-protein interaction could be a candidat
e target for therapeutic intervention in EBV related diseases.