Studies of Epstein-Barr virus (ebv)-associated nuclear antigen. I. assay in human lymphoblastoid cell lines by direct and indirect determination of 125I-IgG binding.

A quantitative assay for EBNA in human lymphoblastiod cell lines has been developed. The assay employs EBNA-positive and -negative 125-I-IgG preparations as reagents and can be used in a direct or indirect manner. EBNA specificity has been demonstrated in a number of ways. The antigenic relationship between EBNA present in Raji cells and in a number of other human lymphoblastiod cell lines of diverse origins and between the cell-associated antigen present in FT Raji cells and that present in isolated Raji nuclei has been studied. The possibility of carrying out blocking titrations for anti-EBNA determination has been demonstrated and the effect of glutaraldehyde and formaldehyde upon antigenic activity in FT Raji cells has been studied.