Transcriptional activation of the adenoviral genome is mediated by capsid protein VI.

Gene expression of DNA viruses requires nuclear import of the viral
genome. Human Adenoviruses (Ads), like most DNA viruses, encode
factors within early transcription units promoting their own gene
expression and counteracting cellular antiviral defense mechanisms.
The cellular transcriptional repressor Daxx prevents viral gene
expression through the assembly of repressive chromatin remodeling
complexes targeting incoming viral genomes. However, it has
remained unclear how initial transcriptional activation of the
adenoviral genome is achieved. Here we show that Daxx mediated
repression of the immediate early Ad E1A promoter is efficiently
counteracted by the capsid protein VI. This requires a conserved
PPxY motif in protein VI. Capsid proteins from other DNA viruses
were also shown to activate the Ad E1A promoter independent of Ad
gene expression and support virus replication. Our results show how
Ad entry is connected to transcriptional activation of their genome
in the nucleus. Our data further suggest a common principle for
genome activation of DNA viruses by counteracting Daxx related
repressive mechanisms through virion proteins.