Synthesis of Thymidine Kinase (TK) in Epstein-Barr Virus-Superinfected Raji TK-Negative Cells

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Abstract
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) from P3HR-1 [human Burkitt''s lymphoma] cells but not from the B95-8 [marmoset leukocyte] cells, can induce the synthesis of thymidine kinase (TK) in TK-negative Raji [human Burkitt''s lymphoma] cells. The synthesis of TK was slightly reduced, but not inhibited, when cells were cultivated in the presence of cytosine arabinoside (ara-C). Synthesis of TK in ordinary Raji cells was enhanced in the presence of the drug. Thymine-.beta.-D-arabinofuranoside (ara-T) was capable of reducing the conversion rate of thymidine to TdR [deoxyribosyl thymidine] nucleotides by extracts prepared from superinfected Raji TK-cells, but had no influence on TK activity in cell extracts from ordinary Raji cells and EBV-negative Ramos [human Burkitt''s lymphoma] cells. This suggested a broader substrate specificity of the virally induced enzyme.