Epstein-Barr virus latent genes.

Author: Myung Soo KANG ¹ ; Elliott KIEFF
Author Information

1. Samsung Advanced Institute for Health Sciences and Technology (SAIHST), Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, Korea. mkang@skku.edu
Publication Type:Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Review
MeSH: Epstein-Barr Virus Infections/complications/virology; Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens/genetics/metabolism; *Genes, Viral; Herpesvirus 4, Human/*physiology; Humans; MicroRNAs/genetics; Neoplasms/etiology; Protein Binding; RNA, Viral/genetics; Viral Matrix Proteins/genetics/metabolism; *Virus Latency
From:Experimental & Molecular Medicine 2015;47(1):e131-
CountryRepublic of Korea
Language:English
Abstract: Latent Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection has a substantial role in causing many human disorders. The persistence of these viral genomes in all malignant cells, yet with the expression of limited latent genes, is consistent with the notion that EBV latent genes are important for malignant cell growth. While the EBV-encoded nuclear antigen-1 (EBNA-1) and latent membrane protein-2A (LMP-2A) are critical, the EBNA-leader proteins, EBNA-2, EBNA-3A, EBNA-3C and LMP-1, are individually essential for in vitro transformation of primary B cells to lymphoblastoid cell lines. EBV-encoded RNAs and EBNA-3Bs are dispensable. In this review, the roles of EBV latent genes are summarized.