Figure 1

LMP1, but not LMP2A or EBNA1, reduces p53 protein levels. (A) Western blot analysis of the effects of LMP1, LMP2A and EBNA1 on the expression levels of endogenous p53 protein in U2OS cells. Transfection of LMP1 reduced the level of p53 protein. (B) Co-transfection of LMP1 abolished p53 protein level in HONE1 NPC cells transiently transfected with p53. A slight reduction in the exogenous p53 protein level in LMP2A co-transfected in HONE1 NPC cells setting but not in U2OS cells in (A). (C) EBV-negative HONE1 and EBV-positive HONE Akata (HA) cells were transfected with p53 construct. p53 protein levels were determined in the Actinomycin-D induced and uninduced state. EBV-positive HA NPC cells have lower levels of p53 protein in comparison with EBV-negative HONE NPC cells. β-actin was served as a loading control in all the three experiments. Representative blots were quantitated using Image J.