Expression from the adeno-associated virus p5 and p19 promoters is negatively regulated in trans by the rep protein.

The leftward two promoters of the adeno-associated virus (AAV) 2 genome were fused to reporter genes, and the constructs were used to transfect HeLa cells. The promoters functioned constitutively but were repressed in trans by the AAV rep gene product(s). The repression was relieved by adenovirus infection. Evidence which indicated an enhancer function for the inverted terminal repeat of the AAV-2 genome was also obtained.