Neuronal Stress Pathway Mediates a Switch
A neuronal pathway involving activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), common to many stress responses, is essential for initial HSV gene expression during reactivation. JNK-dependent reactivation results in a specific change to the HSV epigenome known as a histone methyl/phospho switch, which can permit gene expression to occur from repressive heterochromatin. This study therefore answer a long-standing question as to how viral gene expression can initiate to trigger HSV reactivation.
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