Transcriptional regulation of the human cytomegalovirus major immediate-early gene is associated with induction of DNase I-hypersensitive sites.

Human teratocarcinoma cells were used to examine structural features associated with expression of the major immediate-early (IE) gene of human cytomegalovirus. By immunofluorescence, comparison of RNA levels, and in vitro transcription of nuclei, we showed that the major IE gene is inactive in undifferentiated but active in differentiated cells. Therefore, the block in human cytomegalovirus replication in teratocarcinoma cells appears to be at the transcriptional level, in one of the initial genes transcribed. In addition, the in vitro transcription experiments demonstrated that in permissive infections the gene was transcriptionally inactive late in infection. A comparison of the structural features of the promoter region with the active and inactive IE genes showed the presence of constitutive and inducible DNase I-hypersensitive sites. The majority of the constitutive sites existed at -175, -275, -375, -425, and -525 relative to the cap site in an area which has been shown to be capable of simian virus 40 enhancer function. In contrast, the inducible DNase I sites were located outside this region at -650, -775, -875, and -975.