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

The elution at low pH of human EBV‐positive 125 I‐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.