EPSTEIN-BARR-VIRUS TRANSFORMING PROTEIN

Epstein-Barr virus transforms B lymphocytes in vitro and is associated with an ever increasing number of human malignancies. Of the nine vir us proteins expressed in transformed lymphoblastoid cell lines, studie s have identified five as essential components of the transformation p rocess. One protein, although not essential, increases the efficiency of transformation, whilst the remaining three appear to be dispensable . The viral proteins effect their roles by interacting with components of the cell signaling and transcription pathways.