The Gene That Encodes the Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Latency-Associated Transcript Influences the Accumulation of Transcripts (Bcl-x_L and Bcl-x_s) That Encode Apoptotic Regulatory Proteins

Authors

Weiping Peng, University of Nebrasksa - Lincoln
Gail A. Henderson, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow
Guey-Chuen Perng, University of California Irvine College of Medicine, Irvine, California
Anthony B. Nesburn, University of California Irvine College of Medicine, Irvine, California
Steven L. Wechsler, University of California Irvine College of Medicine, Irvine, California
Clinton J. Jones, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

October 2003

Comments

Published in JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY, Oct. 2003, p. 10714–10718 Vol. 77, No. 19. Copyright © 2003, American Society for Microbiology. Used by permission.

Abstract

The herpes simplex virus type 1 latency-associated transcript (LAT) inhibits apoptosis. We demonstrate here that LAT influences the accumulation of the Bcl-x_L transcript versus the Bcl-x_S transcript in Neuro-2A cells. Bcl-x_L encodes an antiapoptotic protein, whereas Bcl-x_S encodes a proapoptotic protein. Promoting the accumulation of Bcl-x_L in neurons may inhibit apoptosis, thus enhancing the latency-reactivation cycle.