Trans-activation of the adenovirus E2 promoter by human papillomavirus type 16 E7 is mediated by retinoblastoma-dependent and -independent pathways.

In common with the adenovirus E1A and simian virus 40 large T oncoproteins, the E7 protein of human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16 interacts with the retinoblastoma (Rb) tumour suppressor protein (pRb). The functional importance of this interaction for HPV-16 E7 protein was investigated by analysis of the transactivating function of E7 at the adenovirus E2 promoter in a set of breast tumour cell lines. Trans-activation by HPV-16 E7 in two pRb-deficient cell lines demonstrated that pRb is not essential for E7-mediated trans-activation, but reconstitution of Rb expression indicated the existence of an Rb-mediated pathway of E7 trans-activation. This pathway results from suppression by E7 of a trans-repressing function encoded by the Rb gene. The E7 protein is shown to be capable of interacting in vivo with the Rb-related protein p107. Furthermore, analysis of a fusion construct between the amino terminus of Rb and the carboxy terminus of p107 suggests that, in common with pRb, the p107 protein trans-represses the adenovirus E2 early promoter. Therefore it is proposed that the pRb-independent pathway of E7 trans-activation is a consequence of the suppression of trans-repression by p107.