Abstract: Beta‐papillomaviruses (beta‐HPV) have been linked to the development of skin cancer in humans. Because both E6 and E7 proteins from beta‐HPV have been involved in the potential carcinogenicity of these viruses, we investigated their role on UVB‐induced apoptosis in HaCaT cell line. HaCaT cells have been transduced with both E6/E7 using a retroviral system and treated with PRIMA‐1. Apoptosis was assessed by flow cytometry to measure mitochondrial membrane potential and DNA fragmentation. HaCat keratinocytes transduced with both E6 and E7 genes of seven beta‐HPV types (HPV5, HPV8, HPV14, HPV24, HPV36, HPV38 and HPV49) did not demonstrate any inhibition of UVB‐induced apoptosis, even after p53 reactivation through PRIMA‐1. Our data suggest that the expression of E6 and E7 exert different modulatory effects on UVB‐induced apoptosis according to beta‐HPV types and to the cellular genetic context.