Downloaded from genome.cshlp.org on September 30, 2021 - Published by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press LTRs activated by Epstein-Barr virus-induced transformation of B cells alter the transcriptome Authors: Amy Leung1,*, Candi Trac1, Hiroyuki Kato1, Kevin R Costello1,2, Zhaoxia Chen1, Rama Natarajan1,2, Dustin E Schones1,2,* 1Department of Diabetes Complications and Metabolism, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, USA 2Irell & Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, USA *Corresponding Authors: Amy Leung (
[email protected]), Dustin E. Schones (
[email protected]) Amy Leung, Ph.D. Department of Diabetes Complications and Metabolism City of Hope Duarte, CA, 91016 Email:
[email protected] Phone: 626-218-2278 Dustin Schones, Ph.D. Department of Diabetes Complications and Metabolism City of Hope Duarte, CA, 91016 Email:
[email protected] Phone: 626-218-9319 Downloaded from genome.cshlp.org on September 30, 2021 - Published by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press Running title: Activated LTRs alter the transcriptome of B cells (50 characters) Keywords: Retrotransposons, LTRs, H3K4me3, EBV, cryptic promoters Downloaded from genome.cshlp.org on September 30, 2021 - Published by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press ABSTRACT Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) are ancient viral elements that have accumulated in the genome through retrotransposition events. Although they have lost their ability to transpose, many of the long terminal repeats (LTRs) that originally flanked full-length ERVs maintain the ability to regulate transcription. While these elements are typically repressed in somatic cells, they can function as transcriptional enhancers and promoters when this repression is lost. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), which transforms primary B cells into continuously proliferating cells, is a tumor virus associated with lymphomas.