Changes in the expression of two Epstein-Barr virus-associated antigens, EBNA and RANA, during the cell cycle of transformed human B lymphoblasts.

Two methods of cell sychronization, density-dependent arrest and double thymidine block, were used to assign two Epstein-Barr virus-associated antigens to different parts of the growth cycle of the human B lymphblastoid cell lines, WI-L2 and Raji. The Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen (EBNA), as detected by anti-complement immunofluorescence, was maximally expressed during early S phase, decreased during the G2 and M phases, and was absent in early G1. In contrast, the rheumatoid arthritis nuclear antigen (RANA), as detected by anti-immunoglobulin immunofluorescence with a prototype serum form a patient with rheumatoid arthritis, was maximally expressed during early G1 phase, progressively decreased during S and early G2, and reappeared during late G2/M.