Aim: To observe the effect of the human cytomegalovirus(HCMV)-encoded chemokine receptor homolog US28 on the human transcription factor CREB related transcriptional activity.
Methods: The US28 gene was cloned from DNA of HCMV-infected fibroblast at 72 h post infection. The amplified gene fragment was subsequently cloned into pcDNA3.1 eukaryotic expression vector. The recombinant plasmid was selected and identified by sequence analysis. US28-pcDNA3.1 was added to the Dual-Luciferase Reporter Assay System. The immunoreactive bands of phospho-CREB(p-CREB)and luminescence values were observed.
Results: The constructed recombinant vector was verified by PCR analysis and DNA sequencing. US28 enhanced the transcriptional efficiency of CRE driving gene via p-CREB.
Conclusion: HCMV could enhance the transcriptional activity of CRE driving gene via p-CREB. CREB might be involved in the very early reprogramming of the host cell during virus activation.