Protein recognition sites in Polyomavirus enhancer: formation of a novel site for NF-1 factor in an enhancer mutant and characterization of a site in the enhancer D domain

Polyomavirus mutants selected for modified host range exhibit DNA sequence alterations in the regulatory region, which consist mainly of duplications and/or deletions. Single base pair mutations have also been observed, which create or abolish DNA sequence motifs recognized by DNA-binding regulatory factors. The present work deals with the molecular characterization of a Polyoma mutant (PyNB11/1), selected for its high efficiency of growth in neuroblastoma cells. The enhancer region of PyNB11/1 displays a 91 bp tandem duplication harbouring a novel DNA sequence motif created at the boundary of the duplicated fragment. This motif is absent in the wild-type enhancer and is specifically recognized by a nuclear factor that belongs to the NF-1 family of transcription factors. We also report the characterization of an as yet unidentified DNA sequence motif in the D domain of the viral enhancer, that represents the binding site for a nuclear factor that is ubiquitous and comparably abundant in several murine cell types.