EBNA1-targeted probe for the imaging and growth inhibition of tumours associated with the Epstein-Barr virus

  • Lijun Jiang
  • , Rongfeng Lan
  • , Tao Huang
  • , Chi Fai Chan
  • , Hongguang Li
  • , Sam Lear
  • , Jingyi Zong
  • , Wing Yan Wong
  • , Magnolia Muk-Lan Lee
  • , Brandon Dow Chan
  • , Wai Lun Chan
  • , Wai Sum Lo
  • , Nai Ki Mak*
  • , Maria Li Lung
  • , Hong Lok Lung
  • , Sai Wah Tsao
  • , Graham S. Taylor
  • , Zhaoxiang Bian
  • , William C S Tai
  • , Ga Lai Law*
  • Wing Tak Wong*, Steven L. Cobb*, Ka-Leung Wong*
*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

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Abstract

Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen 1 (EBNA1), a dimeric oncoprotein of the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), is essential for both viral-genome maintenance and the survival of infected cells. Despite EBNA1's potential as a therapeutic target, tools for the direct monitoring of EBNA1 in vitro and in vivo are lacking. Here, we show that a peptide-based inhibitor that luminesces when bound to EBNA1 inside the nucleus of EBV + cells can regulate EBNA1 homodimer formation and selectively inhibit the growth of EBV + tumours of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells (C666-1 and NPC43) and Burkitt's lymphoma Raji cells. We also show that the peptide-based probe leads to 93% growth inhibition of EBV + tumours in mice. Our findings support the hypothesis that selective inhibition of EBNA1 dimerization can be used to afford better EBV-related cancer differentiation, and highlight the potential application of the probe as a new generation of biotracers for investigating the fundamental biological function of EBNA1 and for exploring its application as a therapeutic target.

Original languageEnglish
Article number0042
JournalNature Biomedical Engineering
Volume1
Issue number4
Early online date13 Mar 2017
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2017

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