U2 region of Epstein-Barr virus DNA may encode Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen 2.

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Abstract
Sequence analysis of the U2 regions of the B95-8 and AG876 Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) isolates reveals divergence within a long open reading frame previously identified as encoding 1.5 kilobases of the 3'' end of a viral RNA expressed in latently infected, growth-transformed, B-lymphocyte cell lines. Differences among EBV isolates within the U2 open reading frame correlate with differences in an EBV nuclear antigen, EBNA2. B95-8, W91, Raji, Cherry and Lamont EBV isolates have similar U2 doamins and encode similar-size EBNA2 proteins, while AG876, Jijove and P3HR-1 have variant or absent U2 doamins and variant or absent EBNA2 proteins. The AG876 U2 open reading frame and EBNA2 protein are both shorter than those of B95-8. The U2 open reading frame probably encodes EBNA2.