Identification of a cis-acting element within the herpesvirus saimiri ORF 6 promoter that is responsive to the HVS.R transactivator.

We have previously demonstrated that two distinct transcripts are produced from ORF 50, the major transcriptional activating gene of herpesvirus saimiri. The products of these transcripts trans-activate the delayed-early ORF 6 promoter, though to different degrees. Deletion analysis demonstrated that the ORF 50 responsive elements are contained in a 132 bp fragment situated 127-259 bp from the transcription initiation site within the ORF 6 promoter. This fragment conferred ORF 50-responsiveness on an enhancerless simian virus 40. Gel retardation analysis further mapped the responsive elements to a 38 bp fragment.