Two Epstein-Barr virus-associated DNA polymerase activities

Abstract

We have partially purified and characterized two separate DNA polymerase activities associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EB virus). One activity is present in EB virus producer cell lines but not in nonproducer or negative cell lines. It adheres more strongly to DEAE-cellulose than any host cell enzymes, eluting at 210 to 270 mM potassium phosphate buffer. Further elution from phosphocellulose and sedimentation in glycerol gradients yields an enzyme purified 900-fold with an S value of 8.3. The second DNA polymerase activity co-purifies with EB viral particles, elutes at low salt from DEAE-cellulose (40 to 60 mM potassium phosphate buffer) and phosphocellulose (100 mM), and has an S value of 9.5 on glycerol gradient sedimentation. These two enzymes are referred to for convenience as the EB virus-induced DNA polymerase and the EB virion-associated DNA polymerase. The EB virus-induced polymerase can be distinguished from host alpha, beta, and the virion-associated polymerase in 1) being resistant to salt inhibition, 2) having a more basic pH optima in Tris buffer (pH 9.5), and 3) having a 10-fold lower saturating concentration for the activated DNA template. The EB virion-associated polymerase is distinguished from host alpha, beta, and the EB virus-induced polymerase, because it cannot utilize synthetic deoxy- and ribohomopolymer primer-templates in place of the activated calf thymus DNA template in DNA polymerase assays. Neither of the EB virus-associated polymerases can copy the ribohomopolymers dT10poly(rA) or dG12-18(poly(rC) efficiently and therefore can be distinguished from host gamma polymerase and reverse transcriptase. The activity of the EB virus-induced and virion-associated polymerases are unaffected both by antibody to alpha polymerase, and by antiserum with high antibody titers to EB early antigen and viral capsid antigen.