The IR4 gene (inverted repeat gene 4) of equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-), the homolog of the herpes simplex virus type 1 ICP22 gene, is differentially expressed as a 1.4-kb early transcript and a 1.7-kb late transcript that encode a series of proteins that migrate between 42 to 47 kDa, localize to the nucleus of EHV-1-infected cells, and become packaged within EHV-1 virions (V. R. Holden, G. B. Caughman, Y. Zhao, R. N. Harty, and D. J. O'Callaghan, J. Virol. 68, 4329-4340, 1994). To assess the role of the IR4 protein in EHV-1 gene regulation, an IR4 expression vector was cotransfected with EHV-1 chimeric promoter-CAT reporter constructs and EHV-1 effector plasmids to determine the effects of the IR4 protein on the expression of immediate-early (IE), early, and late promoters. These studies revealed that the IR4 protein: (i) minimally trans-activates EHV-1 promoters, (ii) acts synergistically with the UL3 (ICP27) gene product to trans-activate the IE promoter, (iii) does not interfere with the trans-repression of the IE promoter by the IE protein, (iv) enhances transactivation of early promoters by the IE protein, (v) enhances the transactivation of both early and late promoters by the IE and UL3 proteins, and (vi) interacts synergistically with the IE protein to trans-activate the heterologous HSV-1 ICP4 promoter. These data suggest that the IR4 gene product plays a significant role in EHV-1 gene regulation.

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