HAUSP/USP7 as an Epstein-Barr virus target

USP7 (also called HAUSP) is a de-ubiquitinating enzyme recently identified as a key regulator of the p53-mdm2 pathway, which stabilizes both p53 and mdm2. We have discovered that the Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen 1 protein of Epstein-Barr virus binds with high affinity to USP7 and disrupts the USP7-p53 interaction. The results have important implications for the role of Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen 1 in the cellular immortalization that is typical of an Epstein-Barr virus latent infection.