The role of the two E1a mRNA products of subgroup B adenoviruses in the regulation of early promoters of subgroup C adenoviruses.
HeLa cells were co-transfected with recombinant plasmids carrying adenovirus (Ad)2 or Ad3 E1a promoters fused to the chloramphenicol acetyl transferase gene (cat), and a plasmid encoding the Ad3 E1a promoter. Whereas no stimulating effect was observed on the Ad3 E1a promoter, the Ad2 promoter was inhibited. To determine which of the E1a gene products of Ad3 was responsible for the repressive effect, plasmids were constructed in which only the 13S or 12S mRNA product of Ad3 was expressed. Both the 12S and 13S mRNA products of Ad3 E1a were found to depress the transcription from the Ad2 E1a promoter. Each Ad3 E1a gene product was able to stimulate transcription from the Ad5 E2a early promoter in a manner similar to that of the Ad2 E1a gene products. In the case of the Ad5 E3 promoter, neither of the Ad3 E1a gene products stimulated transcription, but an inhibition was observed. These results suggest that both mRNA products of the Ad3 E1a region inhibit transcription at the TATA box transcription complex.