Epstein--Barr virus types 1 and 2 have nearly identical LMP-1 transforming genes

Although variation in the gene encoding the EpsteinBarr virus (EBV) nuclear protein 2 accounts for much of the difference in the transforming activities of the two EBV strain types, divergence in the principal lymphocyte growth-altering gene, LMP-1, has not been previously evaluated. We have now determined the nucleotide sequence of the LMP-1 gene of a type 2 isolate of EBV, AG876. Surprisingly, the AG876 LMP-1 protein is 93% identical to the prototype type 1 EBV strain B95-8, and this is well within the range of variability previously noted among type 1 EBV LMP-1 genes.

^† Present address: Department of Virology and Molecular Biology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, 332 North Lauderdale, Memphis, Tennessee 38105 and Department of Pathology, University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, 800 Madison Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee 38163, U.S.A.