Robert Ricciardi, Ph.D.
Professor, Dept of Microbiology
Chair, Microbiology, Virology and Parasitology Program

Microbiology, Virology and Parasitology Program

Address

Levy Research Building, Room 251
4010 Locust Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104

Office tel.: 215 898-3905
Lab tel.: 215 898-3908
Fax: 215 898-8385
E-mail: ricciardi@biochem.dental.upenn.edu

Link(s)

Ricciardi's Laboratory Homepage


Education

University of Illinois: PhD (Translation Initiation), 1977.

Harvard Medical School: Postdoctoral Research (Biological Chemistry), 1977-1980.

Research Interests

• Our laboratory is interested in the mechanisms by which oncogenic proteins of human viruses exploit cellular functions and regulate gene expression to produce disease and cancer.

Search PubMed for articles

Description of Research

1. The mechanism of E1A-12 mediated tumorigenesis:
   
   In Ad12 tumorigenic cells, the surface levels of the major histocompatibility class I antigens become greatly diminished, enabling these cancerous cells to escape immunosurveillance by cytotoxic T lymphocytes. We have shown that the E1A-12 protein mediates this effect by altering the binding of two transcription factors (NF-kB and COUP-TF) to the class I enhancer which, in turn, blocks transcription from the class I promoter. Specifically, the activator NF-kB becomes hypophosphorylated on a specific residue (serine 337) that disables it from binding to its cognate recognition site on the class I enhancer. This finding alone has provided a new dimension into how NF-kB, the major regulator of genes involved in immune defense, can modulate gene expression. In addition, the repressor COUP-TF becomes strongly bound to a different recognition site on the class I enhancer, where it associates with a histone deacetylase (HDAC) and E1A-12, resulting in chromatin compaction. In this way, E1A-12 mediates global transcriptional shut-off of the class I promoter. In addition to class I shut-off, we have shown that E1A-12 contains a novel 20 amino acid region domain (called the Spacer) which appears to encode a new function that is also necessary for tumorigenesis. Fascinatingly, we have recently shown through genomic microarray analyses that non-neuronal cells transformed Ad12 appear to become reprogram into expressing many neuronal-like genes that may contribute to the tumorigenic phenotype.
   
   
2. Structure and function of the E1A-5 transactivating protein:
   
   Critical to understanding gene expression is the manner by which transcriptional promoters are stimulated by transactivating proteins. The E1A-5 protein of adenovirus contains a 46 amino acid transactivating domain that stimulates promoters by functioning as a bridge between the basal transcription complex and upstream factor binding sites. A zinc finger within the transactivating domain binds to the TATA box binding protein (TBP) and a newly discovered cellular factor, hSur-2 (a subunit of human mediator complex), while residues flanking the zinc finger associate with other basal transcription factors, referred to as TAFs. The way in which E1A-5 and the cellular proteins interact are being investigated using genetic, biochemical and structural approaches.
   
   
3. The Processivity Factor of KSHV: mechanism and antiviral targeting:
   
   KSHV (HHV-8) is a relatively new human herpesviruses that is the etiological agent of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) and certain B-cell lymphomas. We have discovered PF-8, the processivity factor KSHV that enables the viral DNA polymerase (Pol-8) to remain on the template and incorporate thousands of nucleotides. Specifically, we have shown that Pol-8 alone incorporates only three dNTPs whereas a 7,249 deoxynucleotide full-length test-template is synthesized when PF-8 is present. Moreover, this KSHV complex is specific in that other processivity factors and polymerases cannot substitute for PF-8 or Pol-8, making it an excellent drug target. We have recently shown that PF-8 forms homodimers both in solution and on the DNA where it confers stability to Pol-8 on the primer DNA template. We are examining the mechanism by which PF-8 tethers Pol-8 to the template and yet enables the complex to move along the DNA. In addition we have developed a patented mechanistic assay that is now being used for high-throughput robotic-testing of tens-of-thousands of compounds for their abilities to block DNA synthesis by Pol-8 and PF-8. Compounds that block DNA synthesis in vitro, will be tested for their abilities to block KSHV infection. This same approach is also being used to develop anti-viral compounds against small-pox.

Recent Publications

Hou, S., Guan, H., Ricciardi, RP. 2003.Phosphorylation of serine S337 of NF-kappaB p50 is critical for DNA binding. J Biol Chem. [Epub August ahead of print].

Zhao, B., Hou, S. and Ricciardi, R.P.2003. Chromatin Repression by COUP-TFII and HDAC Dominates Activation by NF-kappaB in Regulating Major Histocompatibility Complex Class I Transcription in Adenovirus Tumorigenic Cells. Virology 306: 68-76.

Williams, J.F., Zhang,Y., Williams M.A.,Hou, S., Kushner, D. and Ricciardi, R.P. E1A-based determinants of oncogenicity in human adenovirus groups A and C. In: Adenoviruses: Model and Vectors in Virus Host Interactions. Oncogenesis, Immunology, Gene Therapy. Current Topics in Microbiology a Immunology Vol 273 Springer Verlag, Heidelberg, New York, 2003. In Press

Guan, H. Smirnov, D. A. and Ricciardi, R. P. 2003. Identification of genes associated with adenovirus 12 tumorigenesis by microarray. Virology 309:114-124.

Hou, S. and Guan, H. and Ricciardi, R.P., 2002. In Adenovirus Type 12 tumorigenic cells, major histocompatibility complex class I transcription shutoff Is overcome by induction of NF-kappaB and relief of COUP-TFII repression. J. Virol. 76: 3212-3220.

Lab

Rotation Projects

Lab Rotations will be discussed individually.

Lab personnel:

Ancheng Guan, Ph.D. (UMass) - Postdoctoral Fellow
Biwei Zhou, Ph.D. (MD Andersen, TX) - Postdoctoral Fellow
Chen Yali, Ph.D. (Weissman Institute) - Postdoctoral Fellow
Ciustea Mihai, Ph.D. (University of Florida)