Embryo Lung Cellular Protein Interacting With SARS-CoV (EPIS)

A novel gene was previously isolated from a cDNA library of human embryo lung tissue by its encoded protein, which interacts with non-structural protein 10 (nsp-10) of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV). The protein was named human embryo lung cellular protein interacting with SARS-CoV nsp-10 (HEPIS), and it is composed of 147 amino acids with several CK II phosphorylation sites.

HEPIS was capable of suppressing chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) gene expression controlled by different enhancerelements in a transcription assay. HEPIS interacted specifically with the HSP70 TATA sequence, and not with various other enhancer elements in a binding test. HEPIS may function as a potential transcriptional repressor.