The Epstein-Barr Virus Enhancer Interaction Landscapes in Virus-Associated Cancer Cell Lines
Weiyue Ding, Chong Wang, Yohei Narita, Hongbo Wang, Merrin Man‐Long Leong, Alvin Huang, Yifei Liao, Xuefeng Liu, Yusuke Okuno, Hiroshi Kimura, Benjamin E. Gewurz, Mingxiang Teng, Shuilin Jin, Yoshitaka Sato, Bo Zhao
Abstract
EBV is the first human DNA tumor virus identified, discovered over 50 years ago. EBV causes ~200,000 cases of various cancers each year. EBV-encoded oncogenes, noncoding RNAs, and microRNAs (miRNAs) can promote cell growth and survival and suppress senescence. Regulation of EBV gene expression is very complex. The viral C promoter regulates the expression of all EBV nuclear antigens (EBNAs), some of which are very far away from the C promoter. Another way by which the virus activates remote gene expression is through DNA looping. In this study, we describe the viral genome looping patterns in various EBV-associated cancer cell lines and identify important EBV enhancers in these cells. This study also identified novel opportunities to perturb and eventually control EBV gene expression in these cancer cells.