# Cis-acting Elements in the Regulation of Papillomavirus Gene Expression

> **NIH NIH R21** · UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA · 2023 · $223,773

## Abstract

Infections with human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are the most common sexually transmitted
infection in the US. These infections cause an estimated 5% of cancers worldwide.
HPV infects the basal keratinocytes of differentiating epithelial tissues. Importantly, only persistent
HPV infections are responsible for cancer. Thus, understanding the virus-host interplay that
influences viral persistence has important implications for HPV biology and human cancers.
We used a single-cell genomics approach to identify protein arginine N-methyltransferase 1
(PRMT1) as an important factor for persistence of viral infection within primary human cervical
cells. We demonstrate that PRMT1 inhibition increases the deposition of m6A marks on HPV18
viral mRNA, specifically to intronic regions, resulting in overall dysregulated splicing of the viral
genes. We hypothesize that PRMT1 regulates RBM15 controlled m6a deposition on viral mRNA
to regulate alternative splicing during persistent infection. PRMTs have recently emerged as
molecular targets for anticancer drug development. Although many candidates are still in the
preclinical stage, some inhibitors have entered clinical trials. The basic research in this project
determines if PRMT inhibitors could have translational use for HPV infections and tumors.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10574199
- **Project number:** 1R21AI173916-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
- **Principal Investigator:** Koenraad Van Doorslaer
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $223,773
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-11-18 → 2024-10-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10574199

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10574199, Cis-acting Elements in the Regulation of Papillomavirus Gene Expression (1R21AI173916-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10574199. Licensed CC0.

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