Two E2 binding sites (E2BS) alone or one E2BS plus an A/T-rich region are minimal requirements for the replication of the human papillomavirus type 11 origin.

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) cannot be propagated in vitro, but the DNA can be replicated transiently in an assay in the presence of two trans-acting viral proteins, E1 and E2. Using this assay, we have defined the minimal cis-acting elements of the origin of replication of HPV type 11. Most HPV genomes are conserved at the origin of replication, and the core contains three E2 binding sites (E2BS) surrounding an A/T-rich spacer region. The present results show that the minimal requirement for replication is either two E2BS alone or the A/T-rich region plus one E2BS; in the latter case the relative position of the E2BS is important. In all the studies, the presence of both E1 and E2 proteins was essential for replication, yet only the E2BS was required at the origin. We have shown that E1, E2, and the origin of replication containing an E2BS from a complex in vitro, and our data are consistent with a model in which E2 acts to target E1 to the HPV type 11 replication origin.