Transcription of the Epstein-Barr virus genome in productively infected cells

Transcription of the genome of Epstein-Barr virus in productively infected B95-8 cells was studied. Dot blot hybridization of cDNA prepared from cytoplasmic viral poly(A)RNA with 28 different cloned BamHI fragments of EBV DNA indicated that the patterns of viral genome transcription were similar in control and TPA-treated cells. However, three fragments, BamHI I, R, and Z, appeared to be newly induced in TPA-treated cells, as no significant level of transcription of these fragments was observed in control cells. In contrast, there was no detectable transcription from fragments BamHI P, a, and b even in cells treated with TPA. The size of virus-specific RNA was determined by agarose gel electrophoresis followed by Southern blot hybridization using radioactive BamHI cloned EBV DNA fragments as probes. Sixty-eight cytoplasmic poly(A)RNA species, ranging in size from 0.1 to 2.8 megadaltons, were detected by this procedure.