AN EPSTEIN-BARR VIRUS EARLY PROTEIN INDUCES CELL-FUSION

Superinfection of Raji [human lymphoblastoid] cells with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) leads to syncytium formation. Studies using metabolic inhibitors and amino acid analogs suggest that the fusion-inducing factor belongs to the early group of virus-specified proteins. Induction of early EBV protein synthesis in Raji cells by various chemicals also leads to syncytium formation, indicating that the fusion process is not caused by a virion membrane protein introduced into the cells upon infection. The relevance of these findings to the association of EBV with [human lymphoblastoid] is discussed.