Control of the EBV growth transformation programme: the importance of the Bamhi W repeats

Kao, Kuan-Yu (2011). Control of the EBV growth transformation programme: the importance of the Bamhi W repeats. University of Birmingham. Ph.D.

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Abstract

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a human gammaherpesvirus, possesses a unique set of latent genes whose constitutive expression in B cells leads to cell growth transformation. The initiation of this B-cell growth transformation programme depends on the activation of a viral promoter, Wp, present in each tandemly arrayed BamHI W repeat of the EBV genome. In order to examine the role of the BamHI W region in B cell infection and growth transformation, we constructed a series of recombinant EBVs carrying different numbers of BamHI W repeats and carried out B cell infection experiments. We concluded that EBV requires at least 2 copies of BamHI W repeats to be able to activate transcription and transformation in resting B cells in vitro. At least 5 copies of BamHI W were required for optimal transcription and transformation; while increasing the number beyond 5 copies had no further effect. Experiments to try to rescue the impaired virus indicated that the expression of sufficient levels of EBNA-LP and EBNA2 from Wp are the key determinants of virus-driven B cell transformation. We believe that EBV has evolved to contain multiple copies of BamHI W repeats to ensure high levels of Wp-initiated transcripts immediately post infection.

Type of Work: Thesis (Doctorates > Ph.D.)
Award Type: Doctorates > Ph.D.
Supervisor(s):
Supervisor(s)EmailORCID
Rickinson, AlanUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Tierney, RoseUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Licence:
College/Faculty: Colleges (2008 onwards) > College of Medical & Dental Sciences
School or Department: Institute of Cancer Studies
Funders: None/not applicable
Subjects: R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC0254 Neoplasms. Tumors. Oncology (including Cancer)
URI: http://etheses.bham.ac.uk/id/eprint/1493

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