BPV-4 E8 transforms NIH3T3 cells, up-regulates cyclin A and cyclin A-associated kinase activity and de-regulates expression of the cdk inhibitor p27Kip1.

The E8 open reading frame of Bovine papillomavirus type 4 (BPV-4) encodes a small (42 amino acid) hydrophobic polypeptide localized to cellular membranes and capable of conferring an anchorage-independent (AI) growth phenotype on primary bovine cells co-transfected with BPV-4 E7 ORF and an activated ras gene. To further study the function of E8 independently of other viral gene products, we have expressed it in the murine fibroblast cell line, NIH3T3. Cells expressing E8 are capable of AI growth and escape growth arrest after serum withdrawal. E8 deregulates cyclin A expression, induces transactivation of the human cyclin A gene promoter and increases endogenous protein levels in cells maintained in short-term suspension culture and in low-serum (LS). Both these culture conditions promote downregulation of cyclin A in control cells. In LS growth conditions E8 permits sustained cyclin A-associated kinase activity but not cyclin E-cdk2 activity. Cyclin A-cdk2 activity and, in part, cyclin A gene expression are regulated by the cdk inhibitor p27Kip1. Expression of this cdk inhibitor is also de-regulated in E8 cells, with high levels being detected under all culture conditions tested. These data suggest that the ability of BPV-4 E8 to transform NIH3T3 cells is associated with upregulation of cyclin A-associated kinase activity and de-regulated expression of the cdk inhibitor p27Kip1 and does not rely on down-regulation of p27Kip1 expression. Analysis of E8 mutants indicate that the hydrophilic 'tail' of the molecule (residues 31-42) is required for cell transformation, as assessed by anchorage-independent growth, while a form of E8 with expression restricted to the Endoplasmic Reticulum/cis-Golgi membranes by addition of a 'KDEL' retention signal revealed that the sub-cellular localization is an important determinant of E8 biological activity.