Fig. 7

G-quadruplexes modulate promoter activity of the KSHV miR-K12 cluster and the HCMV miR-US33 promoters. Bar graphs showing promoter activity as measured by firefly luciferase levels normalized with renilla luciferase levels (transfection control). The relative luciferase units (RLU) values of the mutant constructs (Mut-KSHV-GQ and Mut-HCMV-GQ) were nomarlized to that of the respective wild-type constructs (Wt-KSHV-GQ and Wt—HCMV-GQ). (a) The Wt-KSHV-GQ construct (wild-type KSHV miR-K12 cluster promoter with an intact G-quadruplex) has significantly higher promoter activity as compared to that of the Mut-KSHV-GQ construct (contains mutations disrupting the G-quadruplex in the KSHV miR-K12 cluster promoter) (b) The Wt-HCMV-GQ construct (wild-type HCMV miR-US33 promoter with an intact G-quadruplex) has significantly reduced promoter activity compared to that of the Mut-HCMV-GQ construct (contains mutations disrupting the G-quadruplex in the HCMV miR-US33 promoter). Data are depicted as mean ± SD with n = 4 replicates