Expression of the Epstein-Barr virus gp350/220 gene in rodent and primate cells.
The gene encoding the Epstein-Barr virus envelope glycoproteins gp350 and gp220 was inserted downstream of the cytomegalovirus immediate-early, Moloney murine leukemia virus, mouse mammary tumor virus, or varicella-zoster virus gpI promoters in vectors containing selectable markers. Host cell and recombinant vector systems were defined which enabled the isolation of rodent or primate cell clones which expressed gp350/220 in substantial quantities. Continued expression of gp350/220 required maintenance of cells under positive selection for linked markers and periodic cloning. gp350/220 expressed in various host cells varied slightly in electrophoretic mobility, probably reflecting differences in glycosylation. Insertion of a stop codon into the gp350/220 open reading frame, upstream of the putative membrane anchor sequence, resulted in efficient secretion of truncated gp350 and gp220 from rat pituitary (GH3) cells. gp350/220 expressed in mammalian cells is highly immunogenic and elicits virus-neutralizing antibodies when administered to mice.
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002460:Cell Line; D006224:Cricetinae; D003412:Cricetulus; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D010053:Ovary; D010902:Pituitary Gland; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D051381:Rats; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013045:Species Specificity; D014709:Vero Cells; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; C037662:EBV-associated membrane antigen, Epstein-Barr virus; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins