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The role of adenovirus E4orf4 protein in viral replication and cell killing

Oncogene volume 20, pages 7855–7865 (2001)Cite this article

Abstract

It has only been within the last few years that insights have been gained into the remarkable diversity of functions of the adenovirus early transcription region 4 (E4) products. The polypeptide encoded by E4 open reading frame 4 (E4orf4) has emerged as an enigmatic product. Although it accomplishes certain functions that propel viral replication, it has also been shown to be highly toxic, an effect that could dampen the infectious cycle, but that also might serve to facilitate release of viral progeny. When expressed alone, E4orf4 induces a novel form of p53-independent apoptosis in cancer cells but not in normal human cells, thus making it of potential use in cancer gene therapy. In addition, knowledge of its mechanism of action, especially with regard to its interaction with protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A), could provide insights to develop new small molecule anti-cancer drugs. Thus future studies on E4orf4 should be both informative and potentially valuable therapeutically. In this study we review the current status of knowledge on E4orf4.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Tamar Kleinberger for a critical reading of this manuscript. Work conducted on E4orf4 in our laboratory is supported by grants from the National Cancer Institute of Canada and from GeminX Biotechnologies Inc. DE Roopchand is supported by a Studentship from the Fonds FRSQ-FCAR-Santé du Québec.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, McIntyre Medical Building, 3655 Promenade Sir William Osler, Montreal, Quebec, H3G 1Y6, Canada

    Philip E Branton & Diana E Roopchand

  2. Department of Oncology, McGill University, McIntyre Medical Building, 3655 Promenade Sir William Osler, Montreal, Quebec, H3G 1Y6, Canada

    Philip E Branton

  3. GeminX Biotechnologies Inc., P.O. Box 477, Place du Parc, Montreal, Quebec, H2W 2M9, Canada

    Philip E Branton

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Correspondence to Philip E Branton.

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Branton, P., Roopchand, D. The role of adenovirus E4orf4 protein in viral replication and cell killing. Oncogene 20, 7855–7865 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.onc.1204862

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