Adenovirus-5 E1A: Paradox and paradigm

The adenovirus early region 1A (E1A) proteins were described originally as immortalizing oncoproteins that altered transcription in rodent cells. Surprisingly, the 243-amino-acid form of adenovirus-5E1A was found subsequently to reverse-transform many human tumour cells. Tumour suppression apparently results from the ability of E1A to re-programme transcription in tumour cells, and the molecular basis of this intriguing effect is now beginning to emerge. These discoveries have provided a tool with which to study the regulation of fundamental cellular processes.