Epstein-Barr virus DNA. IX. Variation among viral DNAs from producer and nonproducer infected cells

Abstract

A comparative analysis of 3 Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA from American patients with infectious mononucleosis (B95-8, Cherry and Lamont) and 4 Epstein-Barr virus DNA from African patients with Burkitt lymphoma (AG876, W91, Raji and P3HR-1) indicated that the usual format of EBV DNA includes a variable number of direct repeats of a 0.35 .times. 106 dalton sequence (TR) at both ends of the DNA, a 9 .times. 106 dalton sequence of largely unique DNA (Us), a variable number of repeats of a 2 .times. 106 dalton sequence (IR) and a 89 .times. 106 dalton sequence of largely unique DNA (UL). Within UL there was homology between DNA at 26-28 .times. 106 daltons and DNA at 93-95 .times. 106 daltons. The relative sequence order (TR, US, IR, UL, TR) did not vary among standard Epstein-Barr virus DNA molecules of each isolate. B95-8 DNA had an unusual deletion extending from 91-100 .times. 106 daltons and P3HR-1 DNA had an unusual deletion extending from 23.5-26 .times. 106 daltons. There was sufficient variability among the EcoRI and BamHI fragments of the DNAs to identify each isolate specifically. No distinguishing features for the 2 geographic or pathogenic origins of the 7 isolates were discerned. Three intracellular DNA (Raji, Lamont and Cherry) and 1 virion DNA (P3HR-1) were heterogenous in molecular organization and had subpopulations of rearranged or defective molecules. Some regions, particularly 59-63 .times. 106 daltons and sequences around TR, frequently participated in rearrangements. Restriction endonuclease maps of the standard and rearranged DNA of the 7 isolates are presented.