Activation of non-canonical NF-κB pathway mediated by STP-A11, an oncoprotein of Herpesvirus saimiri

Although Saimiri Transforming Protein (STP)-A11, an oncoprotein of Herpesvirus saimiri, has been known to activate NF-κB signaling pathway, the detailed mechanism has not been reported yet. We herein report that STP-A11 activates non-canonical NF-κB pathway, resulting in p100 processing to p52. In addition, translocation of p52 protein (NF-κB2) into the nucleus is observed by the expression of STP-A11. STP-A11-mediated processing of p100 to p52 protein requires proteosome-mediated proteolysis because MG132 treatment clearly blocked p52 production in spite of the expression of STP-A11. Analysis of STP-A11 mutants to activate NF-κB2 pathway discloses the requirement of TRAF6-binding site not Src-binding site for STP-A11-mediated NF-κB2 pathway. Blockage of STP-A11-mediated p52 production using siRNA against p52 enhanced a chemotherapeutic drug-mediated cell death, suggesting that p52 production induced by the expression of STP-A11 would contribute to cellular transformation, which results from a resistance to cell death.