Epstein-Barr Virus Latent Gene Expression during the Initiation of B Cell Immortalization (original) (raw)

• _info_Info
  • Article information
  • Full-Text
  • Figures and Tables
  • References (38)
  • Cited By (101)
  • Supplementary Material
  • Metrics
• _list_Sections

Abstract

SUMMARY

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has the capacity to immortalize a subpopulation of resting B lymphocytes. Lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCL) established in this way carry the latent EBV genome as multiple copies of an extrachromasomal episome. Viral gene expression in LCLs is highly restricted; products identified correspond to a membrane protein (latent membrane protein; LMP), a nuclear antigen complex (Epstein-Barr nuclear antigens; EBNAs 1 to 6), two small RNA species (EBERs 1 and 2) and RNA species thought to encode a second membrane-associated polypeptide designated terminal protein (TP). Here we have investigated the temporal sequence of expression of the characterized ‘latent’ proteins during the initiation of immortalization when resting B cells are stimulated to enter and traverse the cell cycle. The analysis has been carried out on prolymphocytic leukaemia cells infected in vitro with either the immortalizing B95-8 strain of virus or the non-immortalizing P3HR1 strain. The results reveal that following B95-8 infection, a sequence of EBV expression is initiated within approximately 8 h with the synthesis of detectable levels of EBNA 2 shortly followed by EBNAs 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6. There is then a delay of approximately 40 h until the expression of LMP completes the latent pattern of proteins found in LCLs. P3HR1 infection, however, produces only transient expression of some EBNA species in a small percentage of cells after approximately 48 h. These observations suggest the failure of P3HR1 virus to immortalize may not be due solely to the absence of EBNA 2 expression and that cellular and/or virus-mediated events occur after EBNA synthesis which then facilitate efficient LMP expression and immortalization.

• Received: 11/11/1988
• Accepted:03/03/1989
• Published Online:01/07/1989

© Society for General Microbiology 1989

Article metrics loading...

/content/journal/jgv/10.1099/0022-1317-70-7-1755

1989-07-01

2025-01-12

Full text loading...

Most read this month

Article

content/journal/jgv

Journal

5

3

false

en