Papillomavirus E2 protein interacts with and stimulates human topoisomerase I

The papillomavirus (PV) E2 protein plays a role in recruiting viral and cellular DNA replication factors, such as PV E1 or RPA to PV genomes. Using both purified proteins and through co-precipitation, it was determined that HPV-11 E2 binds human topoisomerase I. E2 can stimulate topoisomerase I DNA relaxation activity 3- to 4-fold. Conversely, topoisomerase I is unable to stimulate E2 DNA binding. These findings suggest that stimulation of topoisomerase I by E2 may help promote efficient relaxation of the torsional stress induced by PV DNA replication.