The E6 protein of cancer-associated human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) binds to cellular p53 and promotes its degradation through the ubiquitin pathway. In an attempt to identify the regions of E6 that could be targetted for functional inhibition, we generated monoclonal antibodies to the HPV16 E6 oncoprotein (16E6) and analysed their effect on E6-mediated p53 in vitro degradation. The isolated antibodies recognize the 16E6 oncoprotein expressed in the CaSki carcinoma cell line and strongly inhibit the proteolysis of p53 in vitro by binding specifically to a region of 10 residues located at the N-terminal end of 16E6. The variable regions of these antibodies were cloned and expressed in E. coli as single chain Fvs (scFvs). Purified scFvs were present in monomeric form and totally abolished 16E6-mediated p53 degradation by preventing the formation of E6/p53 protein complexes. Our results demonstrate that monovalent binding of scFvs to the N-terminal end of 16E6 abrogates the biological mechanisms leading to the degradation of p53, and they suggest that this region of 16E6 may be a useful in vivo target for blocking the oncogenic activity of HPV16 E6 protein.

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In-frame contiguous deletions were created in the movement protein gene of alfalfa mosaic virus by sitedirected mutagenesis. The mutated movement proteins were expressed in Escherichia coli, extracted and then purified by denaturing gel electrophoresis and then renatured. Their binding ability with RNA was assayed by electrophoretic retardation and u.v.-crosslinking. Results indicated that a domain included within amino acids 36 to 81 was necessary for RNA binding.

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The E6 protein of cancer-associated human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) binds to cellular p53 and promotes its degradation through the ubiquitin pathway. In an attempt to identify the regions of E6 that could be targetted for functional inhibition, we generated monoclonal antibodies to the HPV16 E6 oncoprotein (16E6) and analysed their effect on E6-mediated p53 in vitro degradation. The isolated antibodies recognize the 16E6 oncoprotein expressed in the CaSki carcinoma cell line and strongly inhibit the proteolysis of p53 in vitro by binding specifically to a region of 10 residues located at the N-terminal end of 16E6. The variable regions of these antibodies were cloned and expressed in E. coli as single chain Fvs (scFvs). Purified scFvs were present in monomeric form and totally abolished 16E6-mediated p53 degradation by preventing the formation of E6/p53 protein complexes. Our results demonstrate that monovalent binding of scFvs to the N-terminal end of 16E6 abrogates the biological mechanisms leading to the degradation of p53, and they suggest that this region of 16E6 may be a useful in vivo target for blocking the oncogenic activity of HPV16 E6 protein.