Integration of an Epstein-Barr virus episome 3' into the gene encoding immunoglobulin heavy-chain alpha 1 in a lymphoblastoid cell line.
For the first time we have characterized an unoccupied site of Epstein-Barr (EBV) virus integration in a lymphoblastoid cell line, RGN1. The site of integration is about 1.5 kb downstream from the gene encoding the heavy chain constant alpha 1, specifying immunoglobulin A (IgA). Sequence and Southern analysis allowed us to hypothesize that integration occurred via a double exchange involving the viral latent origin of DNA replication (oriP) and the human DNA. The region involved in the integration is transcribed into poly(A)+ RNA in all the tested lymphoid lines, but not in the RGN1 line. We suggest a mechanism of integration primed by interactions between oriP and cell ori and its potential role in the establishment and/or evolution of EBV-carrying lines.
Dipartimento di Biologia, Universita Tor Vergata, Roma, Italia.
G
G
Gualandi
D
D
Frezza
A
A
Scotto d'Abusco
E
E
Bianchi
S
S
Gargano
S
S
Giorgi
A
A
Fruscalzo
E
E
Calef
D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000382:microbiology; D001483:Base Sequence; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; D005803:Genes, Immunoglobulin / Q000235:genetics*; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007137:Immunoglobulin alpha-Chains / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016366:Open Reading Frames; D010957:Plasmids; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D016662:Virus Integration
D007137:Immunoglobulin alpha-Chains; D012333:RNA, Messenger