High-level expression of the Epstein-Barr virus EBNA1 protein in CV1 cells and human lymphoid cells using a SV40 late replacement vector

To construct a recombinant plasmid designed to yield large amounts of the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) nuclear antigen, EBNA1, the EBV BamHI-K fragment (B95-8 strain) was inserted into an expression vector composed of SV40 and pBR322 DNA. The vector replicates in both Escherichia coli and eukaryotic cells. Introduction of such a BamHI-K-containing vector into CV1 monkey cells (using DEAE-dextran, glycerol and chloroquine diphosphate) gave high yields of the correct size EBNA1 protein in 40-50% of the transfected cells. Maximal amounts of EBNA1 could be extracted from the cells at 65-72 h post transfection. Using a quantitative ELISA assay, it was estimated that transfected cells express 500-1000 times more EBNA1 than lymphoid cells, latently infected with EBV. A monoclonal antibody directed against EBNA1 immunoprecipitated two proteins of 74 and 62 kDa from transfected cells. These same two proteins were detected in immunoprecipitation and immunoblot experiments using human EBV-positive polyclonal serum, although this serum also detected several other protein products in transfected cells. In vivo labelling of transfected cells with [³²P]orthophosphate showed that the 74- and 62-kDa proteins are modified by phosphorylation. The same vector construction was also used to transfect an EBV-negative human lymphoblastoid cell line (Ramos). Expression of the EBNA1 protein was obtained in up to 20% of the cells.