The Gene That Encodes the Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Latency-Associated Transcript Influences the Accumulation of Transcripts (Bcl-x sub(L) and Bcl-x sub(S)) That Encode Apoptotic Regulatory Proteins

The herpes simplex virus type 1 latency-associated transcript (LAT) inhibits apoptosis. We demonstrate here that LAT influences the accumulation of the Bcl-x sub(L) transcript versus the Bcl-x sub(S) transcript in Neuro-2A cells. Bcl-x sub(L) encodes an antiapoptotic protein, whereas Bcl-x sub(S) encodes a proapoptotic protein. Promoting the accumulation of Bcl-x sub(L) in neurons may inhibit apoptosis, thus enhancing the latency-reactivation cycle.