Repression of bax gene expression by the HTLV-1 Tax protein: implications for suppression of apoptosis in virally infected cells

The human T-cell leukemia virus-encoded oncoprotein Tax is a potent deregulator of cellular gene expression. Here we report that Tax represses transcription of the human bax gene, a gene whose protein product accelerates apoptosis. This repression is mediated through a 27-bp sequence in the bax prom...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Virology (New York, N.Y.) N.Y.), 1997-04, Vol.231 (1), p.135
Main Authors: Brauweiler, A, Garrus, J E, Reed, J C, Nyborg, J K
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Apoptosis - genetics
bcl-2-Associated X Protein
Cell Line
Cell Line, Transformed
Cercopithecus aethiops
Gene Expression Regulation, Viral
Gene Products, tax - genetics
Gene Products, tax - physiology
Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 - genetics
Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 - physiology
Humans
Promoter Regions, Genetic
Proto-Oncogene Proteins - genetics
Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
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Summary:The human T-cell leukemia virus-encoded oncoprotein Tax is a potent deregulator of cellular gene expression. Here we report that Tax represses transcription of the human bax gene, a gene whose protein product accelerates apoptosis. This repression is mediated through a 27-bp sequence in the bax promoter that contains a putative basic helix-loop-helix binding site. Deletion of this sequence abolishes Tax-mediated repression of bax. Repression of the bax gene may be biologically significant, as we also show that HTLV-I-infected cell lines are resistant to a variety of physical, chemical, and biological stimuli which induce apoptosis in uninfected T-cells. The repression of genes involved in promoting apoptosis, including the bax gene, may contribute to retroviral survival, and initiate a pathway toward malignant transformation.
ISSN:0042-6822