Statement of the Problem: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-encoded RNAs (EBERs) are the most abundantly expressed transcripts of EBV. Their role in EBV biology and pathogenesis remains unclear. Nonetheless, they are believed fo be involved in many pathogenic processes including the spread of the virus through improved cell-cell communication [1]. Although primarily localised in the nucleus, EBERs have been reported in other subcellular compadments such as cytoplasm and exosomes [1], [2]. The mechanisms by which EBERs are transported to the cytoplasm and subsequently secreted into exosomes are not known. However, there are repods implicating their secondary structure and their interaction with cellular proteins [1], [3], [4]. These proteins include ribosomal   protein,   L22   RPL22     for nuclear- cytoplasmic trafficking [1], [5] and La antigens for secretion into exosomes[1], 2   Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the structural impact and molecular mechanisms involved in the intracellular transpod and secretion of EBER1.

Materials and Methods: Using site-directed mutagenesis, we generated three EBER1 mutants by deleting sequences corresponding to stem- loops (SL) 1, 3 and 4 of the RNA. These mutants, SU, SL3 and SL4, and the wildtype EBER1 were individually cloned into pHebo plasmid. The plasmids were stably transfected into HEK293T cell lines. Exosomes from transfected cells were isolated and characterised by a Nanopadicle analyser. The expression of EBER1 in the cell, nucleus, cytoplasm and exosomes was quantified using qRT-PCR. Similarly, the expression of RPL22 and La antigen were determined in these fractions using qRT-PCR and western blotting. Cells transfected with wildtype EBER1 were used as reference (100%) while those transfected with empty pHebo (vector only) as the negative control. Additionally, siRNA silencing was employed to explore the effect of these proteins on the nuclear- cytoplasmic transpod and secretion of EBER1.

Findings. Successful transfection was confirmed by cells’ growth in Hygromycin-B-supplemented media and positive expression of the gene using RT-PCR. Fudhermore, EBER1-specific in situ hybridisation was used to confirm EBER1 expression in cells transfected with wildtype EBER1 and mutants. EBV infected cell line, B95.8, was used as a positive control. The pHebo transfectants and untransfected cells were consistently negative for the expression of EBER1. Compared to cells transfected with wildtype EBER1, there were a significantly decreased expression of EBER1 from SU and SL4 mutants in the total cellular, nuclear, cytoplasmic and exosomal fractions. SL3 mutant showed significant increased nuclear expression. This mutant, in turn, had the least percentage of nuclear-cytoplasmic transpod. There was no difference in the percentage secretion in all three mutants compared to the wildtype. There was no significant dysregulation in the expression of RPL22 and La. Silencing of RPL22 correlated to decreased expression of EBER1 in all transfectants when compared to its expression in the control cells. Fudhermore, silencing the expression of RPL22 indicated less nuclear expression of both RPL22 and EBER1 genes in the wildtype and SU mutant with a corresponding higher cytoplasmic expression. In SL3 and SL4 mutants, however, both RPL22 and EBER1 were expressed higher in the nucleus. Nonetheless, in SL3 mutant, there was less nuclear retention of EBER1 when compared to the retention observed in the normal expression of RPL22 protein. Silencing of La protein, on the other