Skip to main content
NCBI home page
Journal of Virology logoLink to Journal of Virology
. 1990 Apr;64(4):1667–1674. doi: 10.1128/jvi.64.4.1667-1674.1990

Transcription of the Epstein-Barr virus genome during latency in growth-transformed lymphocytes.

J Sample 1, E Kieff 1
PMCID: PMC249303  PMID: 2157049

Abstract

Nuclear run-on assays revealed extensive transcription of the Epstein-Barr virus genome during latent infection in in vitro-infected human fetal lymphoblastoid cells (IB-4). The EBER genes were the most heavily transcribed viral genes in these cells. Their transcription was partially inhibited in the presence of 1 microgram of alpha-amanitin per ml and fully inhibited at 100 micrograms/ml, consistent with RNA polymerase III transcription. All other transcription was inhibited at 1 microgram of alpha-amanitin per ml, consistent with RNA polymerase II sensitivity to alpha-amanitin. Other than EBER transcription, almost no transcription occurred from the U1 region. Specifically, no transcription was detected from the U1 latent promoter. RNA polymerase II transcription was highest in IR1, extending rightward through U2 and IR2 into the U3 domain and gradually decreased, but was measurable throughout the rest of the genome. This is consistent with EBNA gene transcription initiation within IR1. The higher level of transcription of the IR1 and U2 domains, which encode EBNA-LP and EBNA-2, as opposed to the domains which encode EBNA-3A, EBNA-3B, or EBNA-3C or EBNA-1, correlated with a higher level of EBNA-LP/EBNA-2 mRNA. Transcription extended through U4 into U5, even though no known latent-gene mRNAs are expressed from U4 downstream of the EBNA-1 open reading frame. This may result from inefficient termination of EBNA gene transcription. Leftward transcription from the latent membrane protein promoter was lower than EBNA transcription, although the latent membrane protein mRNA was the most abundant of the latent-gene mRNAs, indicating that this mRNA is more efficiently processed or has a longer half-life. Although transcription was detected from the DL strong early promoters and to a lesser extent from other early promoters, early mRNAs were less abundant than EBNA mRNAs or undetectable, suggesting that there may be posttranscriptional as well as transcriptional control over early mRNA expression in these latently infected cells.

Full text

PDF
1667

Images in this article

1670Image
on p.1670
1671Image
on p.1671
1672Image
on p.1672

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Aviv H., Leder P. Purification of biologically active globin messenger RNA by chromatography on oligothymidylic acid-cellulose. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1972 Jun;69(6):1408–1412. doi: 10.1073/pnas.69.6.1408. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Baer R., Bankier A. T., Biggin M. D., Deininger P. L., Farrell P. J., Gibson T. J., Hatfull G., Hudson G. S., Satchwell S. C., Séguin C. DNA sequence and expression of the B95-8 Epstein-Barr virus genome. Nature. 1984 Jul 19;310(5974):207–211. doi: 10.1038/310207a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Bodescot M., Brison O., Perricaudet M. An Epstein-Barr virus transcription unit is at least 84 kilobases long. Nucleic Acids Res. 1986 Mar 25;14(6):2611–2620. doi: 10.1093/nar/14.6.2611. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Bodescot M., Chambraud B., Farrell P., Perricaudet M. Spliced RNA from the IR1-U2 region of Epstein-Barr virus: presence of an open reading frame for a repetitive polypeptide. EMBO J. 1984 Aug;3(8):1913–1917. doi: 10.1002/j.1460-2075.1984.tb02067.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Bodescot M., Perricaudet M. Epstein-Barr virus mRNAs produced by alternative splicing. Nucleic Acids Res. 1986 Sep 11;14(17):7103–7114. doi: 10.1093/nar/14.17.7103. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Bodescot M., Perricaudet M., Farrell P. J. A promoter for the highly spliced EBNA family of RNAs of Epstein-Barr virus. J Virol. 1987 Nov;61(11):3424–3430. doi: 10.1128/jvi.61.11.3424-3430.1987. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Dambaugh T., Nkrumah F. K., Biggar R. J., Kieff E. Epstein-Barr virus RNA in Burkitt tumor tissue. Cell. 1979 Feb;16(2):313–322. doi: 10.1016/0092-8674(79)90008-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Dillner J., Kallin B., Alexander H., Ernberg I., Uno M., Ono Y., Klein G., Lerner R. A. An Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-determined nuclear antigen (EBNA5) partly encoded by the transformation-associated Bam WYH region of EBV DNA: preferential expression in lymphoblastoid cell lines. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1986 Sep;83(17):6641–6645. doi: 10.1073/pnas.83.17.6641. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Fennewald S., van Santen V., Kieff E. Nucleotide sequence of an mRNA transcribed in latent growth-transforming virus infection indicates that it may encode a membrane protein. J Virol. 1984 Aug;51(2):411–419. doi: 10.1128/jvi.51.2.411-419.1984. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Gariglio P., Bellard M., Chambon P. Clustering of RNA polymerase B molecules in the 5' moiety of the adult beta-globin gene of hen erythrocytes. Nucleic Acids Res. 1981 Jun 11;9(11):2589–2598. doi: 10.1093/nar/9.11.2589. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Groudine M., Peretz M., Weintraub H. Transcriptional regulation of hemoglobin switching in chicken embryos. Mol Cell Biol. 1981 Mar;1(3):281–288. doi: 10.1128/mcb.1.3.281. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Hardwick J. M., Lieberman P. M., Hayward S. D. A new Epstein-Barr virus transactivator, R, induces expression of a cytoplasmic early antigen. J Virol. 1988 Jul;62(7):2274–2284. doi: 10.1128/jvi.62.7.2274-2284.1988. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Hayward S. D., Kieff E. D. Epstein-Barr virus-specific RNA. I. Analysis of viral RNA in cellular extracts and in the polyribosomal fraction of permissive and nonpermissive lymphoblastoid cell lines. J Virol. 1976 May;18(2):518–525. doi: 10.1128/jvi.18.2.518-525.1976. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Hennessy K., Fennewald S., Hummel M., Cole T., Kieff E. A membrane protein encoded by Epstein-Barr virus in latent growth-transforming infection. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1984 Nov;81(22):7207–7211. doi: 10.1073/pnas.81.22.7207. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Hennessy K., Fennewald S., Kieff E. A third viral nuclear protein in lymphoblasts immortalized by Epstein-Barr virus. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1985 Sep;82(17):5944–5948. doi: 10.1073/pnas.82.17.5944. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Hennessy K., Heller M., van Santen V., Kieff E. Simple repeat array in Epstein-Barr virus DNA encodes part of the Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen. Science. 1983 Jun 24;220(4604):1396–1398. doi: 10.1126/science.6304878. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Hennessy K., Kieff E. A second nuclear protein is encoded by Epstein-Barr virus in latent infection. Science. 1985 Mar 8;227(4691):1238–1240. doi: 10.1126/science.2983420. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Hennessy K., Wang F., Bushman E. W., Kieff E. Definitive identification of a member of the Epstein-Barr virus nuclear protein 3 family. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1986 Aug;83(15):5693–5697. doi: 10.1073/pnas.83.15.5693. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Hewish D. R., Burgoyne L. A. Chromatin sub-structure. The digestion of chromatin DNA at regularly spaced sites by a nuclear deoxyribonuclease. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1973 May 15;52(2):504–510. doi: 10.1016/0006-291x(73)90740-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Howe J. G., Shu M. D. Epstein-Barr virus small RNA (EBER) genes: unique transcription units that combine RNA polymerase II and III promoter elements. Cell. 1989 Jun 2;57(5):825–834. doi: 10.1016/0092-8674(89)90797-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Hummel M., Kieff E. Epstein-Barr virus RNA. VIII. Viral RNA in permissively infected B95-8 cells. J Virol. 1982 Jul;43(1):262–272. doi: 10.1128/jvi.43.1.262-272.1982. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Jat P., Arrand J. R. In vitro transcription of two Epstein-Barr virus specified small RNA molecules. Nucleic Acids Res. 1982 Jun 11;10(11):3407–3425. doi: 10.1093/nar/10.11.3407. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Jeang K. T., Hayward S. D. Organization of the Epstein-Barr virus DNA molecule. III. Location of the P3HR-1 deletion junction and characterization of the NotI repeat units that form part of the template for an abundant 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-induced mRNA transcript. J Virol. 1983 Oct;48(1):135–148. doi: 10.1128/jvi.48.1.135-148.1983. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Joab I., Rowe D. T., Bodescot M., Nicolas J. C., Farrell P. J., Perricaudet M. Mapping of the gene coding for Epstein-Barr virus-determined nuclear antigen EBNA3 and its transient overexpression in a human cell line by using an adenovirus expression vector. J Virol. 1987 Oct;61(10):3340–3344. doi: 10.1128/jvi.61.10.3340-3344.1987. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Laux G., Freese U. K., Bornkamm G. W. Structure and evolution of two related transcription units of Epstein-Barr virus carrying small tandem repeats. J Virol. 1985 Dec;56(3):987–995. doi: 10.1128/jvi.56.3.987-995.1985. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Laux G., Perricaudet M., Farrell P. J. A spliced Epstein-Barr virus gene expressed in immortalized lymphocytes is created by circularization of the linear viral genome. EMBO J. 1988 Mar;7(3):769–774. doi: 10.1002/j.1460-2075.1988.tb02874.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Lieberman P. M., Hardwick J. M., Hayward S. D. Responsiveness of the Epstein-Barr virus NotI repeat promoter to the Z transactivator is mediated in a cell-type-specific manner by two independent signal regions. J Virol. 1989 Jul;63(7):3040–3050. doi: 10.1128/jvi.63.7.3040-3050.1989. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Lindahl T., Adams A., Bjursell G., Bornkamm G. W., Kaschka-Dierich C., Jehn U. Covalently closed circular duplex DNA of Epstein-Barr virus in a human lymphoid cell line. J Mol Biol. 1976 Apr 15;102(3):511–530. doi: 10.1016/0022-2836(76)90331-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Matsuo T., Heller M., Petti L., O'Shiro E., Kieff E. Persistence of the entire Epstein-Barr virus genome integrated into human lymphocyte DNA. Science. 1984 Dec 14;226(4680):1322–1325. doi: 10.1126/science.6095452. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Mueller-Lantzsch N., Lenoir G. M., Sauter M., Takaki K., Béchet J. M., Kuklik-Roos C., Wunderlich D., Bornkamm G. W. Identification of the coding region for a second Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen (EBNA 2) by transfection of cloned DNA fragments. EMBO J. 1985 Jul;4(7):1805–1811. doi: 10.1002/j.1460-2075.1985.tb03854.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. Nonoyama M., Pagano J. S. Separation of Epstein-Barr virus DNA from large chromosomal DNA in non-virus-producing cells. Nat New Biol. 1972 Aug 9;238(84):169–171. doi: 10.1038/newbio238169a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  32. Orellana T., Kieff E. Epstein-barr virus-specific RNA. II. Analysis of polyadenylated viral RNA in restringent, abortive, and prooductive infections. J Virol. 1977 May;22(2):321–330. doi: 10.1128/jvi.22.2.321-330.1977. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  33. Pearson G. R., Luka J., Petti L., Sample J., Birkenbach M., Braun D., Kieff E. Identification of an Epstein-Barr virus early gene encoding a second component of the restricted early antigen complex. Virology. 1987 Sep;160(1):151–161. doi: 10.1016/0042-6822(87)90055-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  34. Petti L., Kieff E. A sixth Epstein-Barr virus nuclear protein (EBNA3B) is expressed in latently infected growth-transformed lymphocytes. J Virol. 1988 Jun;62(6):2173–2178. doi: 10.1128/jvi.62.6.2173-2178.1988. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  35. Petti L., Sample J., Wang F., Kieff E. A fifth Epstein-Barr virus nuclear protein (EBNA3C) is expressed in latently infected growth-transformed lymphocytes. J Virol. 1988 Apr;62(4):1330–1338. doi: 10.1128/jvi.62.4.1330-1338.1988. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  36. Powell A. L., King W., Kieff E. Epstein-Barr virus-specific RNA. III. Mapping of DNA encoding viral RNA in restringent infection. J Virol. 1979 Jan;29(1):261–274. doi: 10.1128/jvi.29.1.261-274.1979. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  37. Reisman D., Yates J., Sugden B. A putative origin of replication of plasmids derived from Epstein-Barr virus is composed of two cis-acting components. Mol Cell Biol. 1985 Aug;5(8):1822–1832. doi: 10.1128/mcb.5.8.1822. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  38. Ricksten A., Kallin B., Alexander H., Dillner J., Fåhraeus R., Klein G., Lerner R., Rymo L. BamHI E region of the Epstein-Barr virus genome encodes three transformation-associated nuclear proteins. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1988 Feb;85(4):995–999. doi: 10.1073/pnas.85.4.995. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  39. Sample J., Hummel M., Braun D., Birkenbach M., Kieff E. Nucleotide sequences of mRNAs encoding Epstein-Barr virus nuclear proteins: a probable transcriptional initiation site. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1986 Jul;83(14):5096–5100. doi: 10.1073/pnas.83.14.5096. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  40. Sample J., Lancz G., Nonoyama M. Mapping of genes in BamHI fragment M of Epstein-Barr virus DNA that may determine the fate of viral infection. J Virol. 1986 Jan;57(1):145–154. doi: 10.1128/jvi.57.1.145-154.1986. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  41. Sample J., Liebowitz D., Kieff E. Two related Epstein-Barr virus membrane proteins are encoded by separate genes. J Virol. 1989 Feb;63(2):933–937. doi: 10.1128/jvi.63.2.933-937.1989. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  42. Sawada K., Yamamoto M., Tabata T., Smith M., Tanaka A., Nonoyama M. Expression of EBNA-3 family in fresh B lymphocytes infected with Epstein-Barr virus. Virology. 1989 Jan;168(1):22–30. doi: 10.1016/0042-6822(89)90399-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  43. Schibler U., Hagenbüchle O., Wellauer P. K., Pittet A. C. Two promoters of different strengths control the transcription of the mouse alpha-amylase gene Amy-1a in the parotid gland and the liver. Cell. 1983 Jun;33(2):501–508. doi: 10.1016/0092-8674(83)90431-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  44. Shimizu N., Yamaki M., Sakuma S., Ono Y., Takada K. Three Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-determined nuclear antigens induced by the BamHI E region of EBV DNA. Int J Cancer. 1988 May 15;41(5):744–751. doi: 10.1002/ijc.2910410518. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  45. Speck S. H., Pfitzner A., Strominger J. L. An Epstein-Barr virus transcript from a latently infected, growth-transformed B-cell line encodes a highly repetitive polypeptide. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1986 Dec;83(24):9298–9302. doi: 10.1073/pnas.83.24.9298. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  46. Speck S. H., Strominger J. L. Analysis of the transcript encoding the latent Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen I: a potentially polycistronic message generated by long-range splicing of several exons. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1985 Dec;82(24):8305–8309. doi: 10.1073/pnas.82.24.8305. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  47. Wang F., Petti L., Braun D., Seung S., Kieff E. A bicistronic Epstein-Barr virus mRNA encodes two nuclear proteins in latently infected, growth-transformed lymphocytes. J Virol. 1987 Apr;61(4):945–954. doi: 10.1128/jvi.61.4.945-954.1987. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  48. Yates J., Warren N., Reisman D., Sugden B. A cis-acting element from the Epstein-Barr viral genome that permits stable replication of recombinant plasmids in latently infected cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1984 Jun;81(12):3806–3810. doi: 10.1073/pnas.81.12.3806. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of Virology are provided here courtesy of American Society for Microbiology (ASM)

RESOURCES