Human papillomavirus type 31b E1 and E2 transcript expression correlates with vegetative viral genome amplification

Human papillomavirus (HPV) genome replication is dependent on the expression of E1 and E2 proteins. The organotypic (raft) culture system was used to investigate changes in viral early gene expression and vegetative genome replication during the complete life cycle of HPV type 31b (HPV31b). We have previously shown the synthesis of HPV31b viral particles as early as 10 days of growth of CIN-612 9E raft tissues (Ozbun, M. A., and Meyers, C. (1997). J. Virol. 71, 5161-5172). In the present study, we investigated the structures and temporal expression levels of HPV31b E1 and E2 transcripts, as well as the replication of the viral genome during the viral life cycle. The amplification state of the HPV31b genome was maximal at 10 days of raft tissue growth. Furthermore, the expression levels of E1 and E2 RNAs correlated with vegetative viral DNA replication. Levels of E1- and E2- specific transcripts were dissimilar throughout the viral life cycle. E2 RNA levels remained relatively constant, whereas E1 RNA levels were upregulated during the maximal amplification of viral genomes and the biosynthesis of virions. These data indicate that E1 may be the major regulator of viral genome amplification in preparation for DNA packaging and virion morphogenesis.