Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen 2 disrupts mitotic checkpoint and causes chromosomal instability.

The Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen 2 (EBNA2) plays a key role in transformation of B-lymphocytes mediated by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and can induce tumor formation in transgenic mice. However, the precise mechanism underlying EBNA2-mediated tumorigenesis remains elusive. Here, we report that EBNA2 can compromise mitotic spindle checkpoint (MSC) induced by the spindle inhibitor nocodazole and cause chromosomal instability (CIN) in HEp-2, U2-OS and BJAB cells.