Phenotypes of Epstein-Barr virus LMP1 deletion mutants indicate transmembrane and amino-terminal cytoplasmic domains necessary for effects in B-lymphoma cells.

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) latent infection membrane protein 1 (LMP1) has previously been shown to cause EBV-negative B-lymphoma cells to grow in large clumps and to alter expression of surface activation and adhesion molecules (D. Wang, D. Liebowitz, F. Wang, C. Gregory, A. Rickinson, R. Larson, T. Springer, and E. Kieff, J. Virol. 62:1473-4184, 1988; F. Wang, C. Gregory, C. Sample, M. Rowe, D. Liebowitz, R. Murray, A. Rickinson, and E. Kieff, J. Virol. 64:2309-2318, 1990). In order to identify functional elements in the amino-terminal cytoplasmic domain and the first four transmembrane domains which were previously shown to be essential for LMP1 activity, three smaller deletion mutants were constructed and tested for their activity in B-lymphoma cells. The results of the present study indicate that the amino-terminal cytoplasmic domain, the first transmembrane domain, and the third and fourth transmembrane domains each contribute to LMP1's effects on B lymphocytes.