DISSOCIATION OF EBV GENOME REPLICATION AND HOST-CELL PROLIFERATION INANTI-IGG-STIMULATED AKATA CELLS

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive Burkitt's lymphoma cell line, Ak ata, was treated with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) for 96 hr in order to reversibly arrest cell cycle progression in G1 phase. Stimulation of t he cells with anti-IgG antibody induced a marked and synchronous repli cation of EBV DNA within 12 hr, before the cells entered into S-phase after release from DMSO-induced arrest, Furthermore, a reduced efficie ncy of productive replication was demonstrated if anti-IgG stimulation was delayed after release, The results indicate that entry into S-pha se of host cells is not only unnecessary for, but also may have negati ve consequences for the productive phase of EBV infection. Also, it wa s shown that addition of acyclovir, an inhibitor of the EBV-encoded DN A polymerase, to anti-IgG-stimulated Akata cells inhibited the product ive replication of EBV DNA, but had no effect on the expression of ear ly genes of the virus, including BZLF1, BRLF1, BMRF1, and BHRF1. (C) 1 996 Academic Press, Inc.