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

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