VACCINE

Cellular And Molecular Life Sciences • July 2007
Oncogenic potentials of the
human polyomavirus regulatory proteins
Author information
Moens U1, Van Ghelue M, Johannessen M.
Department of Microbiology and Virology
Faculty of Medicine, University of Tromsø
N-9037, Tromsø, Norway
ugom@fagmed.uit.no
Abstract
The polyomaviruses BK, JC and SV40 are common in the human population.
Their DNA genomes encode large T-antigen, small t-antigen, agnoprotein, and
the capsid proteins VP1-3. Studies with these viruses have contributed extensively
to the understanding of processes such as replication, transcriptional and
posttranscriptional regulation, and cell cycle control. All three viruses can transform
human cells in vitro, can induce tumours in animal models, and are strongly
association with certain human cancers. It is generally assumed that large T-antigen
is the major protein involved in neoplastic processes and that large T-antigen
predominantly exerts its effect through deregulation of the tumour suppressors
p53 and the retinoblastoma family members. However, additional properties of
large T-antigen as well as the other viral proteins contribute to oncogenic processes.
This review presents the different mechanisms by which the polyomavirus
proteins can induce transformation and discusses which mechanisms may be
operational in polyomavirus-positive cancers.
“This review presents the
different mechanisms by which the
polyomavirus proteins can induce
transformation and discusses which
mechanisms may be operational
in polyomavirus-positive cancers.”
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17483871