Detection of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated nuclear antigen in human lymphoblastoid cell lines by means of an 125-I-IgG-binding assay

The elution at low pH of human EBV-positive ¹²⁵I-IgG bound to preparations of EBV-carrying non-producer lymphoblastoid cell lines has been investigated. Specific binding was demonstrated. A number of approaches were used to confirm the specificity. The stoichiometry of binding and elution was studied. The sub-cellular location of the EBV-associated antigen (s) detected by this method was shown to be predominantly nuclear. This confirms other studies demonstrating the presence of a nuclear antigen in non-producer lymphoblastoid cell lines carrying the EBV genome.