Inhibition of host transcription by vesicular stomatitis virus involves a novel mechanism that is independent of phosphorylation of TATA-binding protein (TBP) or association of TBP with TBP-associated factor subunits.

The matrix (M) protein of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) is a potent inhibitor in vivo of transcription by all three host RNA polymerases (RNAP). In the case of host RNA polymerase II (RNAPII), the inhibition is due to lack of activity of the TATA-binding protein (TBP), which is a subunit of the basal transcription factor TFIID. Despite the potency of M protein-induced inhibition in vivo, experiments presented here show that M protein cannot directly inactivate TFIID in vitro. Addition of M protein to nuclear extracts from uninfected cells did not inhibit transcription activity, indicating that the inhibition is indirect and is mediated through host factors. The host factors that are known to regulate TBP activity include phosphorylation by host kinases and association with different TBP-associated factor (TAF) subunits. However, TBP in VSV-infected cells was found to be assembled normally with its TAF subunits, as shown by ion exchange high-pressure liquid chromatography and sedimentation velocity analysis. A normal pattern of phosphorylation of TBP in VSV-infected cells was also observed by pH gradient gel electrophoresis. Collectively, these data indicate that M protein inactivates TBP activity in RNAPII-dependent transcription by a novel mechanism, since the known mechanisms for regulating TBP activity cannot account for the inhibition.