Variant chromatin structure of the oriP region of Epstein-Barr virus and regulation of EBER1 expression by upstream sequences and oriP

Most of the Epstein-Barr virus genome in latently infected cells is in a st andard nucleosomal structure, but the region encompassing oriP and the Epst ein-Barr virus-encoded small RNA (EBER) genes shows a distinctive pattern w hen digested with micrococcal nuclease. This pattern corresponds to a previ ously mapped nuclear matrix attachment region. Although the EBER genes are adjacent to oriP, there is only a two- to fourfold effect of oriP on EBER e xpression. However, sequences containing a consensus ATF site upstream of E BER1 are important for EBER1 expression.