Epstein-Barr virus complementary strand transcripts (CSTs/BARTs) and cancer.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) encodes a family of related transcripts, the complementary strand transcripts (CSTs) or BARTs (Bam A rightward transcripts). These are present in all types of EBV infection but are expressed to particularly high levels in nasopharyngeal carcinomas. Although convincing demonstration of protein expression from these transcripts is still subject to some debate, potential proteins encoded by them have been shown to modify Notch signalling pathways. Copyright 2001 Academic Press.