Accumulation of human papillomavirus type 16 E7 protein bypasses G1 arrest induced by serum deprivation and by the cell cycle inhibitor p21.

The E7 oncoproteins encoded by the high-risk type of human papillomaviruses (HPVs) interact with the Rb family proteins Rb, p107, and p130. The Rb family proteins associate with the factors of the E2F family to form transcription repressor complexes, which control expression of several genes essential for S-phase entry and DNA replication. The E7 oncoproteins, by interacting with the Rb family proteins, dissociate the repressor complexes involving the factors of the E2F and Rb families, leading to a release of the E2F factors in their activator forms. In this study, we have addressed the mechanism by which the HPV type 16 (HPV16) E7 stimulates the cell cycle. Using a cell line that inducibly expresses the HPV16 E7 protein, we show that an accumulation of E7 induces quiescent cells to enter S phase and that this function of E7 depends on retention of the motif involved in binding to the Rb family proteins. To study the effects of E7 on normal human cells, we generated a recombinant adenovirus that expresses the HPV16 E7 protein. Infection of normal human fibroblasts, which were arrested in G1 phase by serum deprivation, with the E7-expressing virus induced the cells to enter S phase. The E7-induced S phase entry was accompanied by an increase in the activator form of E2F, but no increase in the cyclin-dependent kinase (cdk) activity was detected. Infection of serum-stimulated fibroblasts with a recombinant adenovirus expressing the cdk inhibitor p21 inhibited progression into S phase. Coinfection with the E7-expressing virus abrogated the p21 inhibition of progression into S phase without increasing the cdk activity. These results are consistent with the notion that E7 stimulates entry into S phase through targets downstream of the cdks such as the proteins of the E2F and Rb families.