Defining the functional domains in the control region of the adenovirus type 2 specific VARNA1 gene.

The outer boundaries of the internal transcriptional control region in the VARNA1 gene have been located from positions +10 to +69. To further define the detailed organization of the functional domains in this region and the function(s) of the 5' flanking sequence, and to obtain a more detailed insight into other transcriptionally important sequences, we have constructed 77 mutants with deletion endpoints at almost every one to five base-pairs in the entire region from -30 to +160 for transcriptional studies. Using our highly active crude extract under our assay conditions, and quantitatively measuring the transcriptional efficiency and competing strength of each mutant, we have revealed new features of important transcriptional control sequences and defined the transcriptional functions of several functional domains in this gene. The essential domain is from +59/+63 to +66/+68, which corresponds to the B block sequence. This is smaller than that defined previously. The second most important domain is the region from +12/14 to +40, which includes the A block sequence that dictates the wild-type major start site and amplifies the events started by the B block region, mediated through factors and RNA polymerase III. Furthermore, the domain from -5 to +11 affects the use of certain start site(s). Moreover, the 5' flanking region from -30 to +1 contributes 80 to 90% of the overall transcriptional efficiency of the gene. Finally, our transcriptional studies of mutants deleted of the A block sequence and all of the upstream sequence indicated that an intimate interaction between the two blocks is essential for initiation of transcription. Furthermore, the B block sequence is more important than the A block sequence in the transcription reaction. The mechanism and control of transcriptional initiation in the VARNA1 gene is similar to that in some tRNA genes, but differs from that in others.