Communications Biology (Apr 2021)
Parallel G-quadruplexes recruit the HSV-1 transcription factor ICP4 to promote viral transcription in herpes virus-infected human cells
Abstract
Ilaria Frasson et al. find that the herpesvirus major transcription factor ICP4 regulates viral gene expression and replication through binding to parallel DNA G-quadruplexes (G4s). These results suggest that drugs targeting G4s at ICP4-regulated gene promoters could be an effective antiviral strategy.