U2 region of Epstein-Barr virus DNA may encode Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen 2.
Sequence analysis of the U2 regions of the B95-8 and AG876 Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) isolates reveals divergence within a long open reading frame previously identified as encoding 1.5 kilobases of the 3' end of a viral RNA expressed in latently infected, growth-transformed, B-lymphocyte cell lines. Differences among EBV isolates within the U2 open reading frame are shown to correlate with differences in an EBV nuclear antigen, EBNA2. B95-8, W91, Raji, Cherry, and Lamont EBV isolates have similar U2 domains and encode similar-size EBNA2 proteins, while AG876, Jijoye, and P3HR-1 have variant or absent U2 domains and variant or absent EBNA2 proteins. The AG876 U2 open reading frame and EBNA2 protein are both shorter than those of B95-8. These data indicate that the U2 open reading frame encodes EBNA2.
D000818:Animals; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D001483:Base Sequence; D002460:Cell Line; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes; D004274:DNA, Recombinant / Q000032:analysis; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019309:Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens; D005796:Genes; D005814:Genes, Viral; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics*; D012342:RNA, Small Nuclear; D014771:Virion / Q000235:genetics
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D004274:DNA, Recombinant; D004279:DNA, Viral; D019309:Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens; D012342:RNA, Small Nuclear; D012313:RNA; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes