Epstein-Barr virus induces a distinct form of DNA-bound STAT1 compared with that found in interferon-stimulated B lymphocytes

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J Gen Virol 88 (2007), 1876-1886; DOI 10.1099/vir.0.82741-0

Epstein-Barr virus induces a distinct form of DNA-bound STAT1 compared with that

found in interferon-stimulated B lymphocytes

McLaren1, Rowe2 and Brennan1

1 Department of Medical Biochemistry and Immunology, Henry Wellcome Research

Institute, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK

2 Cancer Research UK Institute for Cancer Studies, University of Birmingham,

Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK

Correspondence

Brennan

brennanP@...

Since 'constitutive activation' of STAT1 was first described in Epstein-Barr

virus (EBV)-immortalized lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs), there has been

controversy regarding the molecular identity of the STAT1 DNA-binding complex

found in these cells. The post-translational modifications of STAT1 in LCLs have

been analysed and an LMP1-induced STAT1 DNA-binding complex, different from that

generated by alpha interferon (IFN) stimulation and not involving tyrosine

phosphorylation, is demonstrated. STAT1 is serine-phosphorylated downstream of

PI3K and MEK in LCLs and this modification restricts IFN-stimulated STAT1-DNA

binding. These data suggest that EBV induces a distinct form of DNA-bound STAT1

in virus-infected cells.