Characterization of a cDNA clone corresponding to a transcript from the Epstein-Barr virus BamHI M fragment: evidence for overlapping mRNAs.

ABSTRACT

A 1.95-kilobase cDNA clone was isolated by screening a size-selected lambda gt10 cDNA library prepared from an Epstein-Barr virus-transformed B-cell line, IB4, with the Epstein-Barr virus BamHI M fragment. Sequence analysis revealed that this clone contains about 75% of the BMRF1 and the complete BMRF2 open reading frames. The transcript is not spliced, and the polyadenylation signal at base pair 2641 of the BamHI M fragment is used. Northern blots (RNA blots) indicate that this polyadenylation signal is used for three overlapping mRNAs. The sizes of these transcripts are 3.5, 2.6, and 1.5 kilobases.