Major Immediate-Early Enhancer and Its Gene Products
Jeffery L. Meier and Mark F. Stinski
from: Cytomegaloviruses: Molecular Biology and Immunology (Edited by: Matthias J. Reddehase). Caister Academic Press, U.K. (2006)
Abstract
The major immediate-early (MIE) regulatory region plays a key role in the control of lytic and latent infections. Transcription from the MIE promoter is rate-limiting for the lytic cycle, whereas transcriptional quiescence is linked to viral latency. The MIE enhancer governs these outcomes by integrating a diverse array of input provided by the cell, the virus, and external surroundings. Its complex structure also affords the regulatory means for partly determining cell tropism. The degree of enhancer-dependent transcriptional activation determines the level of expression of the IE1 p72 and IE2 p86 proteins that are vital for viral replication. These proteins function to not only activate other essential viral genes, but to also vastly change host cell physiology and behavior. Hence, the mechanisms underlying MIE gene regulation and function contribute importantly to the genesis of disease caused by CMV. A better understanding of the MIE enhancer and its gene products is hoped to spawn novel strategies for preventing CMV-related illness read more ...
