target genes by a small viral protein

 

         target genes by a small viral protein

      Adenovirus E1B-55k targets transcription factor p53 for degradation and is thought to be critical for p53 inactivation during adenovirus replication. Indeed, mutant viruses lacking E1B-55k have been tested as viral cancer therapies selective for p53-positive tumours. These authors find another adenoviral protein,silk pajamas, E4-ORF3, to inactivate p53 independently of E1B-55k by means of a chromatin-silencing mechanism that prevents access of p53 to its DNA target sites.

Conrado Soria, Fanny E. Estermann, Kristen C. Espantman & Clodagh C. O’Shea