The neuronal host cell factor-binding protein Zhangfei inhibits herpes simplex virus replication.

During lytic infection in epithelial cells the expression of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) immediate-early (IE) genes is initiated by a multiprotein complex comprising the virion-associated protein VP16 and two cellular proteins, host cellular factor (HCF) and Oct-1. Oct-1 directly recognizes TAATGARAT elements in promoters of IE genes. The role of HCF is not clear. HSV-1 also infects sensory neurons innervating the site of productive infection and establishes a latent infection in these cells. It is likely that some VP16 is retained by the HSV-1 nucleocapsid as it reaches the neuronal nucleus. Its activity must therefore be suppressed for successful establishment of viral latency. Recently, we discovered an HCF-binding cellular protein called Zhangfei. Zhangfei, in an HCF-dependent manner, inhibits Luman/LZIP/CREB3, another cellular HCF-binding transcription factor. Here we show that Zhangfei is selectively expressed in human neurons. When delivered to cultured cells that do not normally express the protein, Zhangfei inhibited the ability of VP16 to activate HSV-1 IE expression. The inhibition was specific for HCF-dependent transcriptional activation by VP16, since a Gal4-VP16 chimeric protein was inhibited only on a TAATGARAT-containing promoter and not a on a Gal4-containing promoter. Zhangfei associated with VP16 and inhibited formation of the VP16-HCF-Oct-1 complex on TAATGARAT motifs. Zhangfei also suppressed HSV-1-induced expression of several cellular genes including topoisomerase IIalpha, suggesting that in addition to suppressing IE expression Zhangfei may have an inhibitory effect on HSV-1 DNA replication and late gene expression.

Zhangfei is a potent and specific inhibitor of the host cell factor-binding transcription factor Luman.

Host cell factor (HCF) was initially discovered as a cellular co-factor required for the activation of herpes simplex virus immediate early gene expression by the virion associated transactivator VP16. HCF also participates in a variety of cellular processes, although the mechanism of its action is not known. VP16 binds to HCF through a 4-amino acid motif (EHAY), which closely resembles the HCF binding domain of two cellular basic leucine-zipper proteins, Luman and Zhangfei. Luman is a powerful transcription factor that, in transient expression assays, activates promoters containing cAMP or unfolded protein response elements (UPRE). In contrast, Zhangfei neither binds consensus recognition elements for basic leucine-zipper proteins nor does it activate promoters containing them. Here we show that Zhangfei suppresses the ability of Luman to activate transcription. HCF appeared to be required for efficient suppression. A mutant of Zhangfei, which was unable to bind HCF, was impaired in its ability to suppress Luman. Zhangfei did not suppress ATF6, a transcription factor closely related to Luman but that does not bind HCF, unless the HCF binding motif of Luman was grafted onto it. Zhangfei inhibited the HCF-dependent activation of a UPRE-containing promoter by a Gal4-Luman fusion protein but was unable to inhibit the HCF-independent activation by Gal4-Luman of a promoter that contained Gal4 binding motifs. Binding of HCF by Zhangfei was required for the co-localization of Luman and Zhangfei to nuclear domains, suggesting that HCF might target the proteins to a common location.