Interaction of EBNA with anti-EBNA antibody and DNA

Binding of Epstein-Barr-virus-determined nuclear antigen (EBNA) to acid-fixed nuclei could be prevented by exposing EBNA to anti-EBNA antibodies. While EBNA is eluted from acid-fixed nuclei by 0.4 M NaCl, it was not eluted even by 1.5 M NaCl if EBNA bound to acid-fixed nuclei had been exposed to anti-EBNA antibody. In this case the reaction was abolished, and EBNA was at least partially eluted by 0.2 M glycine buffer, pH 2.8, or by 3 M NaSCN. EBNA not exposed to antibody was completely eluted from acid-fixed nuclei by treatment with a solution containing 200 microgram of DNA per 1 ml of isotonic buffer, pH 6.5; however, after treatment with antibody, EBNA was not eluted by DNA.