Specific immune serum to the Epstein-Barr virus DNA polymerase

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA polymerase was released from phorbol ester-treated tamarin (Saguinus oedipus) cells (B95-8) and prepared for use as an antigen by sequential column chromatography with DEAE-Sephadex A-25, DEAE-cellulose, phosphocellulose, and single-stranded DNA cellulose. Proteins from single-stranded DNA cellulose with DNA polymerase activity in 100 mM ammonium sulfate were mixed with complete Freund adjuvant and injected intradermally into rats and rabbits. Immune sera that were screened for specific antibody by indirect immunofluorescence procedures reacted with approximately 3% of the cells in EBV-producer cultures (B95-8 and P3HR-1) but not with EBV genome-negative cells (BJAB). In functional enzyme assays, immune sera or the immunoglobulin fraction inhibited the activity of purified EBV DNA polymerase 90%. Inhibition of enzyme activity was not affected by absorption of immune sera with insoluble matrices of proteins prepared with tamarin and human cells which lacked the EBV genome. Cellular DNA polymerase alpha was not inhibited by immune sera to the EBV enzyme.