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Updated: Sep 8, 2026

Establishment of Epstein-Barr Virus Growth-transformed Lymphoblastoid Cell Lines
Published on: November 8, 2011
DNA damage stimulates human cell transformation by integrative but not episomal Epstein-Barr virus-derived plasmid
J M Vos1, E L Wauthier, P C Hanawalt
1Department of Biological Sciences, Stanford University, California.
Abstract:
Previous work has demonstrated that ultraviolet (UV) irradiation of SV40-based plasmids can strikingly enhance the frequency of stable transformation of human cells. In this study we compared the effect of UV-induced DNA damage on transformation mediated by integrative versus autonomously replicating plasmids derived from human Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). We report that transfection of human fibroblasts with UV-irradiated integrative EBV-based plasmid results in enhanced transformation. However, transfection of UV-damaged episomal EBV-based constructs into the same human cell line does not enhance transformation; in fact, the extrachromosomal status of the plasmid is maintained irrespective of the UV dose to the plasmid. We conclude that enhanced transformation of human cells by damaged DNA requires its chromosomal integration.
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