Heterogeneity of Epstein-Barr virus. III. Comparison of a transforming and a nontransforming virus by partial denaturation mapping of their DNAs.

The DNAs of a transforming and a nontransforming Epstein-Barr virus strain, B95-8 AND P3HR-1, were compared by partial denturation mapping. B95-8 viral DNA showed a homogeneous denaturation pattern. In contrast, P3HR-1 viral DNA was heterogeneous, containing at least two classes of molecules, classified into groups A and B and present in a ratio of about 2:1 to 3:1. No evidence could be obtained that molecules from both groups A and B contain identical sequences present in different orientations as described for herpes simplex viral DNA. The majority of sequences present in B95-8 and in P3HR-1 viral DNA group A could be correlated by assuming that different sequences, about 12,000 base pairs long, were inserted or deleted, respectively, at different position of both viral genomes.