Identification of Epstein-Barr virus sequences that encode a nuclear antigen expressed in latently infected lymphocytes.
The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) BamHI restriction endonuclease fragment K (B95-8 strain) was introduced into a polyoma virus expression vector and used to transfect murine NIH 3T3 cells. An EBV-associated nuclear antigen was detected in these cells in an indirect immunofluorescence test using anti-EBV nuclear antigen-positive human sera. These sera recognized a Mr 88,000 polypeptide in 3T3 cells transfected with the BamHI fragment K-containing polyoma virus plasmid by radioimmunoelectrophoresis. A Mr 88,000 polypeptide also was detected in a B-cell line latently infected with the B95-8 strain of EBV. Plasmids containing insertion and deletion mutations in BamHI fragment K directed the synthesis of truncated forms of the Mr 88,000 polypeptide in 3T3 cells. These data directly demonstrate that the polypeptide identified in EBV-infected lymphocyte lines by anti-EBV nuclear antigen-positive human sera is encoded by the viral genome.
D000818:Animals; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D002460:Cell Line; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes / Q000378:metabolism; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D015245:Deoxyribonuclease BamHI; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000382:microbiology*; D051379:Mice; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010957:Plasmids; D014162:Transfection
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D004279:DNA, Viral; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes; D015245:Deoxyribonuclease BamHI