Identification of amber and ochre mutants of the human virus Ad2+ND1.

Although human adenoviruses grow poorly in monkey cells, this defect can be overcome either by coinfection of cells with simian virus 40 (SV40) or by insertion of the relevant portion of the SV40 genome into the adenovirus genome to form an adenovirus-SV40 hybrid virus. The nondefective adenovirus-2-SV40 hybrid virus, Ad2+ND1, contains an insertion of 17% of the SV40 genome, which codes for at least part of a 30,000 dalton protein. A set of Ad2+ND1 host-range mutants that have lost the ability to grow in monkey cells and behave as point mutants fail to synthesize the 30,000 dalton ND1 protein. Translation in vitro of SV40-specific mRNA from mutant-infected cells produces unique short polypeptides instead of the 30,000 dalton protein. Here we show that this set of host-range mutants includes both ochre and amber nonsense mutations. When the SV40-specific mRNA from the host-range mutants is translated in vitro to produce the polypeptide fragments, yeast suppressor tRNA can partially restore synthesis of wild-type-size 30,000 dalton protein. By this assay, one mutant is ochre and two are amber.     

Simian virus to (SV40) tumor-specific proteins in nucleus and plasma membrane of HeLa cells infected by adenovirus 2-SV40 hybrid virus Ad2+ND2.

HeLa cells infected with the nondefective adenovirus 2-SV40 hybrid virus (Ad2+ND2) have previously been shown to synthesize two SV40-specific proteins with molecular weights of 56,000 (56 K protein) and 42,000 (42 K protein). The present study demonstrates that these proteins are immunoprecipitable with serum from hamsters bearing SV40 tumors. By peptide analysis, it is shown that the 56 K and 42 K proteins share common amino acid sequences. Both proteins are metabolically stable in nuclei and plasma membranes but unstable in the cytoplasm, as shown by pulse-chase experiments and cell fractionation studies.     

Biological activity of purified simian virus 40 T antigen proteins.

Proteins related to simian virus 40 (SV40) T antigen uere isolated from cells infected with adenovirus 2/SV40 hybrids Ad2+D2 and Ad2+ND1 dp2 as well as from a line of human cells (SV80) transformed by SV40. The 96,000- and 107,000-dalton proteins of SV80 and Ad2+D2, after injection into the cytoplasm of cultured cells, rapidly accumulate in the nuclei, where they remain antigenically reactive for at least 20 hr and trigger DNA synthesis in quiescent cells. By contrast, the 23,000-dalton protein coded by Ad2+ND1 dp2 does not stimulate cellular DNA synthesis. However, all three purified proteins are able to provide helper function for the growth of adenovirus 2 in monkey cells. Thus, purified SV40 T antigen and proteins that share sequences with it retain the ability to carry out at least two functions associated with the product of the A gene of SV40.     

A NONDEFECTIVE (COMPETENT) ADENOVIRUS-SV40 HYBRID ISOLATED FROM THE AD.2-SV40 HYBRID POPULATION

A new nondefective hybrid virus has been plaque-isolated from the Ad.2-SV40 hybrid population. This virus replicates efficiently with one-hit kinetics in both human embryonic kidney and African green monkey kidney cells, induces an SV40 specific antigen which is detectable by immunofluorescence and complement-fixation using sera from SV40 tumor-bearing hamsters, and produces SV40-specific RNA detectable by DNA-RNA hybridization. The SV40-specific antigen induced by this virus is heat-stable, sensitive to inhibitors of DNA synthesis, serologically different from SV40 T and viral antigens, and is an unrecognized SV40 antigen.     

Enzymatic activities associated with a purified simian virus 40 T antigen-related protein

A protein antigenically related to the simian virus (SV 40) A gene product has been purified to near homogeneity from cells infected with the adenovirus-SV 40 hybrid virus Ad2(+)D2 and shown to contain ATPase (ATP phosphohydrolase, EC 3.6.1.3) and protein kinase (ATP:phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.37) activity. Both enzymatic activities copurify with the protein through six stages including one gel filtration column, two ion exchange columns, and a heparin affinity column. Analogous fractions from extracts of cells uninfected or infected with adenovirus 2 alone do not contain these enzymatic activities. The D2 hybrid protein resolves into two forms (I and II) during ion exchange chromatography. Form I, the major species (85%) of the D2 hybrid protein, elutes from DEAE-Sephadex in 0.37 M NaCl and is able to catalyze the hydrolysis of ATP to ADP + P(i) at a rate of 3 mumol/hr per mg. The remaining 10-15% of the D2 hybrid protein consists of form II which elutes from DEAE-Sephadex in 0.29 M NaCl and is able to hydrolyze ATP as well as to incorporate phosphorus from ATP into either the D2 hybrid protein itself or other protein acceptors such as phosvitin. Although both forms are able to bind DNA, the ATPase activity of form I cosediments with SV 40 DNA more efficiently than does the protein kinase activity of form II during glycerol gradient centrifugation. The ATPase activity of form I is efficiently inhibited by addition of anti-T gamma globulin to the reaction mixture whereas control gamma globulin has no effect. Similarly, the phosphorylation of the D2 hybrid protein by form II is inhibited by anti-T gamma globulin. By contrast, phosphorylation of phosvitin is specifically inhibited by antibody only when the immune complex is removed from the reaction mixture. Thus, it appears likely that one and possibly two enzymatic activities are carried out by the D2 hybrid protein. These findings are discussed in terms of mechanisms of SV 40 DNA replication and virally induced transformation.     

Functional expression in primate cells of cloned DNA coding for the hemagglutinin surface glycoprotein of influenza virus.

We have used simian virus 40 (SV40) DNA as a vector for expression of functional activity of a cloned influenza viral DNA segment in primate cells. Cloned full-length DNA sequences coding for the hemagglutinin of influenza A virus (Udorn/72/[H3N2]) were inserted into the late region of a viable deletion mutant of SV40, and the hybrid DNA was propagated in the presence of an early SV40 mutant (tsA28) helper. Infection of primate cells with the hybrid virus produced a polypeptide similar in molecular size to the hemagglutinin of influenza virus, as shown by immunoprecipitation and gel electrophoresis. The polypeptide was glycosylated, as shown by incorporation of radioactive sugars. The putative hemagglutinin exhibited functional activity, as shown by agglutination of erythrocytes. In addition, an indirect immunofluorescence assay showed that the hemagglutinin polypeptide of the hybrid virus could be detected on the surface of infected cells.     

Cleavage of Simian Virus 40 DNA at a Unique Site by a Bacterial Restriction Enzyme

The R(1) restriction endonuclease of Escherichia coli converts covalently-closed circular Simian Virus 40 (SV40) DNA to unit-length linear duplex molecules. Cleavage occurs at a unique site, since denaturation and renaturation of these linear molecules yield linear but no circular molecules. The distance from the cleavage site to the SV40 DNA sequence contained in the adenovirus-SV40 hybrid, Ad2(+)ND(1), is 0.11 of the length of SV40 DNA. T4 gene 32 protein binds to SV40 DNA in a region 0.45 of the length of SV40 DNA from the R(1) cleavage site. E. coli B restriction endonuclease can cleave SV40 DNA at several sites.     

Adenovirus 2 early gene expression promotes susceptibility to effector cell lysis of hybrids formed between hamster cells transformed by adenovirus 2 and simian virus 40.

Weakly oncogenic adenovirus 2 (Ad2)-transformed LSH hamster cells are sensitive to lysis by spontaneously cytolytic lymphoid cells and activated macrophages, whereas highly oncogenic simian virus 40 (SV40)-transformed LSH cells are relatively resistant to these nonspecific effector cells. Somatic cell hybrids formed between Ad2- and SV40-transformed hamster cells, which expressed Ad2 tumor (T) antigens, exhibited an increased cytolytic susceptibility compared to Ad2 T antigen-negative cell hybrids or nonhybrid SV40-transformed cells. No correlation was found between the expression of SV40 T antigen in hybrid cells and cytolytic susceptibility. The results suggest the existence of a novel function for early Ad2 genome-encoded polypeptides (T antigens) expressed in transformed hamster cells--the induction of susceptibility to destruction mediated by immunologically nonspecific effector cells.     

Efficient coupled transcription and mRNA splicing in vitro using plasmids derived from early region 3 of adenovirus 2 and a nondefective adenovirus-simian virus 40 hybrid.

Accurate and highly efficient (80%) splicing of a single mRNA precursor to processed products was achieved using HeLa cell extracts to synthesize and process RNA in vitro from recombinant plasmids containing specific DNA segments from adenovirus 2 (Ad2) and the nondefective adenovirus-simian virus 40 (Ad+2ND1) hybrid. One plasmid, pRID, contains a segment of Ad2 DNA spanning chromosome map coordinates 75.9-83.4. The other plasmid, pRW9, contains the analogous viral region from Ad+2ND1. RNA synthesis from pRID in vitro occurs for more than 60 min and is directed by RNA polymerase II. RNA products consistent in size with the expected precursor and the two processed mRNAs are made. RNA blot hybridization analyses showed that these products are complementary to the Ad2 insert in the plasmid and that the appropriate intervening sequence was absent from the smallest processed mRNA. Comparison of the splice patterns of RNA made in vitro to those of RNAs taken from infected cells using the nuclease S1 technique demonstrated the accuracy of intron removal.     

Somatic cell hybrids producing antibodies specific for the tumor antigen of simian virus 40.

We have produced somatic cell hybrids between mouse myeloma cells deficient in hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase IMP: pyrophosphate phosphoribosyltransferase; EC 2.4.2.8) and spleen cells derived from mice primed with either syngeneic or allogeneic cells transformed by simian virus 40. Such hybrids produced antibodies specific for simian virus 40 tumor (T) antigen. Only four of twelve independent hybrid cell cultures produced antibodies against simian virus 40 T antigen that crossreacted with the T antigen induced by BK virus, a human papovavirus isolated from patients who had undergone immunosuppressive therapy.     

Host nuclear proteins expressed in simian virus 40-transformed and -infected cells.

Two new families of host proteins (Mr, 48,000 and 55,000), in additional to the viral large (T) and small tumor antigens, are precipitable, with anti-T antiserum, from cells transformed or infected by the DNA tumor virus simian virus 40 (SV40). Rabbit anti-mouse 48,000 protein antiserum reacts specifically with SV40-infected or -transformed mouse cells to give nuclear staining indistinguishable from T-antigen staining but does not react with SV40-transformed human cells which nevertheless have structurally analogous 48,000 proteins, nor does it give nuclear fluorescence with untransformed mouse cells. Comparison of the partial proteolytic digests of the 48,000 proteins from cultured cells of various mammalian species shows that they are structurally related but not related to the 55,000 or large T-antigen proteins. The 55,000 proteins from the various mammalian species were also structurally related.     

Assignment of the T-antigen gene of simian virus 40 to human chromosome C-7

Hybrid cell clones between mouse cells deficient in thymidine kinase (EC 2.7.1.21) and two different human cell lines transformed by simian virus 40 (SV40) and deficient in hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase (EC 2.4.2.8) were examined for SV40 tumor (T) antigen(s). Concordant segregation of the gene(s) for SV40 T antigen and human chromosome C-7 was observed in these hybrids. The human chromosome C-7 which contains the gene(s) for SV40 T antigen is preferentially retained by the majority of the hybrid clones tested. When hybrid clones positive and negative for SV40 T antigen, derived from the fusion of SV40-transformed Lesch-Nyhan fibroblasts with mouse cells, were fused with CV-1 permissive cells, SV40-specific V antigen was observed only in the cultures derived from fusion of the hybrid clones positive for T antigen. This result indicates a linkage relationship between human chromosome C-7, SV40 T-antigen gene(s), and SV40 genome(s) integrated in the human transformed cells.     

Antibodies specific for the carboxy- and amino-terminal regions of simian virus 40 large tumor antigen.

Antibodies specific for the amino- and carboxy-terminal portions of simian virus 40 large tumor (T) antigen were obtained by immunization of rabbits with synthetic peptides corresponding to these regions. The amino-terminal synthetic peptide has the sequence Ac-Met-Asp-Lys-Val-Leu-Asn-Arg-(Tyr). The tyrosine residue was introduced in order to couple the peptide to bovine serum albumin with bis-diazotized benzidine. The carboxy-terminal peptide has the sequence Lys-Pro-Pro-Thr-Pro-Pro-Pro-Glu-Pro-Glu-Thr. It was coupled to bovine serum albumin with glutaraldehyde. The antisera against both peptides reacted with large T antigen. The specificity of the immune reaction was demonstrated by inhibition experiments using excess synthetic peptides. Furthermore, fragments of T antigen encoded by the nondefective adenovirus 2-simian virus 40 hybrid viruses Ad2+ND2 and Ad2+ND4, which contain the carboxy terminus and lack the amino terminus of large T antigen, were precipitated only with antiserum to the carboxy-terminal peptide. Small T antigen was not precipitated with either serum, suggesting that the amino terminus of small T antigen has a conformation different from that of large T antigen or that it is sterically hindered by a host protein. The procedures used here are of general importance for identification and characterization of gene product.     

Immunologic selection against simian virus-40 transformed cells: Concomitant loss of viral antigens and early viral gene sequences

A clonal line of highly oncogenic "spontaneously transformed" mouse cells (T AL/N clone 3) was transformed in tissue culture by simian virus 40 (SV40) and subsequently recloned. The clone of SV40-transformed cells (subclone 1) expressed SV40-specific T (nuclear) and transplantation antigens but was 100 times less tumorigenic than the parent T AL/N clone 3 cells. When large numbers of subclone 1 cells (10(4)-10(5)) were injected into syngeneic AL/N mice, tumors were produced. From the tumors, cell lines were established in culture, all of which were consistently negative for T antigen. Tumor lines tested were found not to contain SV40-specific transplantation antigen and had again become highly tumorigenic. The original subclone 1 cells contained about one copy of SV40 DNA per diploid amount of cell DNA, as well as RNA complementary to the early region of the SV40 genome. The T antigen-negative cells from tumor line 124 contained approximately 0.5 copy of SV40 DNA per diploid equivalent and did not synthesize any detectable virus-specific RNA. Reassociation kinetic analysis with restriction enzyme fragments of viral DNA demonstrated that the cells from tumor line 124 (and also the clones of this line) had lost DNA sequences predominantly from the early region of the SV40 genome. The results indicate that a set of stably integrated SV40 DNA sequences can be present in a cell without the expression of viral antigens.     

Components of Adenovirus-Simian Virus 40 Hybrid Viruses

The DNA and protein components of the adenovirus 7-simian virus (SV)40 hybrid virus “E46⁺” have been investigated. The Ad.7-SV40 hybrid DNA genome could be distinguished from nonhybrid Ad. 7 genome on the basis of its molecular weight in an alkaline sucrose gradient. The hybrid genome could also be separated from nonhybrid adenovirus 2 DNA when purified transcapsidant adenovirus 2^+t7 (Ad.7-SV40 DNA within an Ad.2 capsid) was studied. The presence and amount of SV40 DNA in the hybrid virus genome was determined by DNA-RNA hybridization. The results presented suggest: (i) that about 10% of the particles in the E46⁺ preparations contained SV40 DNA covalently linked to adenovirus DNA; (ii) that the hybrid virus genome has a molecular weight 10-12% lower than that of nonhybrid virus, consistent with a deletion of adenovirus DNA; and (iii) that the hybrid virus contained only 40-50% of a total SV40 genome.     

Protein kinase activity associated with the D2 hybrid protein related to simian virus 40 T antigen: Some characteristics of the reaction products

Protein kinase activity (ATP:protein phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.37) has been found associated with the D2 hybrid protein, a highly purified protein of 107,000 daltons specified by the adenovirus-simian virus 40 (SV40) hybrid Ad2(+)D2, which has many properties associated with authentic SV40 T antigen [Tjian, R. & Robbins, A. (1979) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 76, 610-614]. We have now examined some of the biochemical characteristics of the reaction products. Acceptors for the terminal phosphoryl group of [gamma-(32)P]ATP are the purified protein itself and at least four proteins extracted from nuclei of uninfected cells. Purified histones do not serve as substrate for the enzyme. Phosphorylation is markedly reduced by heating the D2 hybrid protein to 50 degrees C for 30 min. The products of phosphorylation are stable to treatment with ethanol/ether, DNase, and RNase, but completely degraded by digestion with Pronase, demonstrating their protein nature. The phosphate bonds are liable to hot alkali and sensitive to digestion with alkaline phosphatase but stable to treatment with hot acid or hydroxylamine. These results provide evidence that (32)P is incorporated into O-phosphoserine or O-phosphothreonine residues of acceptor proteins, indicating that the enzymatic activity is characteristic for protein kinase, and that cell-specified nuclear proteins other than histones may serve as substrates for the enzyme.     

Eukaryotic translational control: adeno-associated virus protein synthesis is affected by a mutation in the adenovirus DNA-binding protein.

Growth of adeno-associated virus (AAV) requires expression of certain adenovirus (Ad) genes in the same cell. AAV particles contain three proteins, VP1 (Mr 85,700), VP2 (Mr 72,000), and VP3 (Mr 61,500). These proteins have overlapping peptide maps. We recently reported that AAV RNAs make up a 3'-coterminal family of overlapping molecules. We report here that the most abundant AAV mRNA, a 2.3-kilobase spliced RNA, codes for all three proteins--VP1, VP2, and VP3--when translated in an in vitro reticulocyte lysate. This shows that the AAV capsid proteins are coded by the genome sequence between map positions 48.0 and 96.0 (1 map unit is 1% of the genome or 47 base pairs). When AAV was grown in human KB cells with the Ad temperature-sensitive mutant Ad5ts125 at the nonpermissive temperature (40 degrees C), the accumulation in vivo of AAV capsid proteins VP1, VP2, and VP3 was decreased to less than 1/50th. However, normal amounts of the 2.3-kilobase mRNA were accumulated, and this RNA could be efficiently translated in an in vitro reticulocyte lysate system to yield VP1, VP2, and VP3. These experiments suggest that in infected cells control is exerted upon the AAV 2.3-kilobase mRNA at the translational level and that this control can be influenced by mutations in Ad. These Ad mutations map in the region 2 early gene for the Ad DNA-binding protein. The temperature-sensitive system that we have studied may be useful for analysis of translational control of a eukaryotic mRNA.