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bioRxiv · 10.64898/2026.03.31.715635

CRISPR Screens Reveal Epstein-Barr Virus-activated JunB as a Key Lymphoblastoid B cell Dependency Factor that Represses Cyclin Dependent Kinase Inhibitor P18INK4c

Burton, E.·Liao, Y.·Maestri, D.·Mitra, B.·Gewurz, B. E.
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Abstract

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) persistently infects over 95% of adults worldwide and is associated with a range of cancers, including lymphomas and epithelial malignancies. Despite advances in understanding EBV biology, targeted therapies for EBV-associated cancers remain limited. To identify novel dependencies in EBV-infected cancers, we performed genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 loss-of-function screens in EBV+ lymphoblastoid versus Burkitt lymphoma cells, which differ by EBV latency programs. JunB emerged as a critical LCL-selective host dependency factor. LCL JunB knockout significantly decreased proliferation, with reduced G2/M progression, but without inducing apoptosis. JunB was more highly expressed in B cells with the EBV latency III than latency I program and correlated with LMPist1 levels in newly infected B cells. LMP1 stimulated JunB expression in a manner dependent on its cytoplasmic tail TES1/CTAR1 region and on canonical NF-{kappa}B. EBV-activated JunB played an obligatory role in repression of the G1/S phase inhibitor CDKN2C/p18INK4c in LCLs but not Burkitt B cells. These findings establish an LMP1-JunB-p18INK4c axis as essential for EBV-driven lymphoblastoid B cell proliferation, suggest JunB-mediated cross-talk between Epstein-Barr nuclear antigens and LMP1, and highlight JunB as a potential therapeutic target for EBV-associated lymphoproliferative disorders.

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Burton, E., Liao, Y., Maestri, D., Mitra, B., Gewurz, B. E.. 2026-04-01. CRISPR Screens Reveal Epstein-Barr Virus-activated JunB as a Key Lymphoblastoid B cell Dependency Factor that Represses Cyclin Dependent Kinase Inhibitor P18INK4c. https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.03.31.715635

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