title: A third viral nuclear protein in lymphoblasts immortalized by Epstein-Barr virus.
abstract: Most sera from patients with rheumatoid arthritis as well as some sera from normal Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-infected people detect a 140-kDa protein on immunoblots of EBV-infected lymphoblasts. The 140-kDa protein is a nuclear protein characteristic of latent EBV infection. Sera reactive with this protein identify a distinctive globular nuclear antigen. Although the 140-kDa protein is encoded by EBV, it is not encoded by genes that encode the two previously described EBV nuclear antigens (EBNA) or the latent-infection membrane protein. The 140-kDa protein is therefore designated EBNA3. The EBV genes, including the gene encoding EBNA3, that are characteristically expressed in latent infection are likely to play a role in the maintenance of persistent latent viral infection or in the cell proliferation caused by virus infection.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hennessy
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fennewald
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kieff
mesh_terms: D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D002460:Cell Line; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000032:analysis; D002472:Cell Transformation, Viral; D019309:Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens; D005814:Genes, Viral; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000382:microbiology*; D008970:Molecular Weight; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral; D019309:Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens; D014764:Viral Proteins