Separate regions of an adenovirus E1B protein critical for different biological functions.

The E1B region of Ad12 encodes two major proteins, the 482R (55K) and 163R (19K). In this report we showed that the E1B 482R is multifunctional, in that its structure may somehow contribute to its own stability, in viral DNA and virus replication, in transformation of primary cells, and in tumorigenicity. Deletion of the first 24 amino acids and of aa residues 114-155 (dl42) results in an instability of the 55K protein. The N-terminal 24 aa residues (pm1852) or amino acids residues 80-96 (dl17) are not required for viral DNA or virus replication, whereas amino acid residues between 114 and 155 (dl42) are absolutely necessary for viral DNA synthesis. Deletion of amino acid residues 1-24, 80-96, and 114-155 (dl42) greatly reduces the transforming ability of both virus and plasmids containing any one of these deletions. One of the critical regions for tumorigenicity residues within amino acid residues 80-96, since cells transformed by this plasmid are nontumorigenic. On the other hand the region bounded by amino acid residues 114-155 (dl42) is not required for tumorigenicity in immunocompetent animals.