An immunoaffinity purification procedure for SV40 large T antigen

A rapid purification procedure for SV40 large T antigen has been developed which combines the use of an adenovirus-SV40 hybrid virus which overproduces large T antigen, and immunoaffinity chromatography on an anti-large T monoclonal antibody coupled to protein A Sepharose. The protein exhibits the p53-binding, ATPase, and sequence-specific DNA-binding activities of T antigen. The purification procedure can be completed in 1 day and allows the isolation of milligram amounts of large T in excellent yield. The pure protein is extremely antigenic and is tolerant of iodination to high specific activity, permitting the development of a competition radioimmunoassay for large T that reliably detects nanogram amounts of the protein.     

Simian virus 40 specific cytotoxic lymphocyte clones localize two distinct TSTA sites on cells synthesizing a 48 kD SV40 T antigen

Simian virus 40 specific antigenic sites (TSTA) which react with SV40 specific cytotoxic lymphocytes (CTL) were localized on the surface of mouse embryo fibroblasts (H-2b) transformed with a recombinant plasmid which contain SV40 large T antigen coding DNA sequences (0.65-0.37 map units). These cells (B6/pSV-20-GV) synthesize a large T antigen polypeptide of 48 kD and could be lysed with two independently isolated CTL clones which recognize distinct antigenic sites on SV40 transformed cell surface. These results suggest that at least two distinct TSTA sites are present in cells synthesizing only the amino terminal half of SV40 T antigen.     

Identification and biochemical analysis of DNA replication-defective large T antigens from SV40-transformed cells

Nine commonly studied Simian virus 40 (SV40)-transformed rodent cell lines were screened for tumor (T) antigens defective in SV40 DNA replication using a simple polyethylene glycol-mediated cell fusion assay. Each line contained a functional origin of SV40 DNA replication, as shown by fusion with Cos 1 cells. Fusion with uninfected monkey cells revealed that T antigens from two lines lacked detectable replicative activity, while T antigens from five other lines exhibited only very weak replicative activity. One line, and a tumor cell line derived from it, expressed T antigen with wild-type replication activity. Biochemical analysis of these proteins revealed defects in DNA binding activity and ATPase activity. One line expressed large T antigen defective in both activities. All of the lines contained complexes of T antigen with the cellular protein p53 and all of the T antigens exhibited nucleotide-binding activity. The results indicate that some of these lines may constitute a useful source of new replication-defective T antigens.     

Cell surface binding simian virus 40 large T antigen becomes anchored and stably linked to lipid of the target cells

Previously a new small subclass of SV40 large T antigen with a high-binding affinity to living target cells was characterized (J. Lange-Mutschler and R. Henning, 1983, Virology 127, 333-344.) In the present study the external binding process, particularly the tight linkage of T antigen to lipid of the target cells, was analyzed. Extraction of SV40-transformed target cells (SV80) first by sonification yielded approx 80% of [35S]methionine-labeled T antigen (mechanical extract). A further 20% was obtained by treatment of cellular debris with hydroxylamine (hydroxylamine extract). As shown by an 125I-protein A radioimmunoassay, hydroxylamine extracts contained significantly higher amounts of cell surface binding T antigen. Correspondingly, after incubating [3H]palmitic acid-prelabeled target cells (HeLa) with unlabeled extracts, predominantly T antigen from hydroxylamine extracts became 3H labeled by the target cells, dependent on metabolic or enzymatic conditions. 3H-labeled T antigen became unlabeled after treatment with hydroxylamine indicating a covalent ester linkage between cell surface-bound T antigen and lipid of the target cells. The cell surface localization of in vitro acylated T antigen was demonstrated by mild trypsin digestion of living target cells. These results strongly support the idea about a novel mechanism by which a minor subclass of T antigen after being bound to the cell surface becomes covalently linked to lipid of the living cell.     

Binding of SV40 a protein to the BK virus origin of DNA replication

The SV40 A protein (T antigen) binds to the putative origin of replication of the related BK virus (BKV). Protection studies with dimethyl sulfate identify multiple pentanucleotide contact sites in three distinct binding regions. In addition to the consensus family of recognition sequences, 5′-(G > T)(A > G)GGC-3′, previously identified in the origin of SV40, BKV contains a contact 5′-AAGGC-3′ site. As in the case of SV40, each binding region contains recognition sequences in different arrangements. The high affinity region I contains two sites arranged as direct repetitions covering a span of 17 base pairs (bp). In the intermediate affinity region II, four pentanucleotides are oriented as inverted repetitions with a span of 23 bp. Low affinity region III has a single contact site that can direct binding of the A protein. These different arrangements of DNA contact sites determine different patterns of protein binding and DNase protection in the three regions. The findings support a model of A protein binding to DNA previously proposed for the SV40 origin and establish a basis for future studies on regulatory phenomena at the BKV origin.     

Analysis of the nonviral antigens immunoprecipitable by SV40 T antibody from SV40-transformed human/mouse hybrid cell lines

A temperature-sensitive (ts) mutant of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), tsJ12, is able to undergo one cycle of replication at the nonpermissive temperature (39°) yielding wild-type quantities of enveloped virus particles. These particles contain viral DNA which is as infectious as wild-type viral DNA; however, they are not infectious. Analysis of [¹⁴C]glucosamine-labeled mutant-infected cell extracts by one- and two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis demonstrated that at 39° tsJ12 fails to induce the synthesis of both the mature gB glycoprotein and its dimeric form which are normal constituents of the virion envelope. Polyethylene glycol, an agent which promotes membrane fusion, enhances the infectivity of tsJ12 virions by greater than 1000-fold following adsorption of virus to susceptible cells demonstrating that mutant virions are able to attach to cells but not penetrate. Consistent with a defect in the virion envelope, tsJ12 is able to interfere with the production of infectious wild-type virus, presumably by the formation of pseudotypic virions composed of wild-type viral genomes in gB-deficient envelopes. Physical mapping of the is defect in this mutant demonstrates that it lies within the limits of the DNA sequence which specifies gB on the physical map of the genome. A ts⁺ revertant of tsJ12 is as infectious as wild-type virus and synthesizes a gB glycoprotein which is indistinguishable from that of wild-type virus. Thus, biological and biochemical studies of tsJ12 and of a ts+ revertant of this mutant (1) demonstrate that glycoprotein gB is essential for infectivity at the level of penetration and (2) further define the physical map location of the gene for this glycoprotein.     

Nuclear preparations of SV40-transformed cells contain tumor-specific transplantation antigen activity.

Nuclear preparations from human SV40-transformed cells containing high levels of the tumor antigen (TA) were found to be enriched for tumor-specific transplantation antigen (TSTA).     

Tumor-specific transplantation antigen is expressed during SV40 lytic infection with wild-type and tsA mutant viruses.

The expression of SV40 tumor-specific transplantation antigen (TSTA) in SV40-infected monkey cells has been assayed using detergent extracts of cell membranes and cytosol to immunize mice prior to an SV40 ascites-tumor challenge. TSTA is expressed during infection of CV-1 cells by wild-type SV40 and by a temperature-sensitive A mutant. Following infection by the tsA mutant, TSTA [like the tumor antigen (TA) but unlike viral DNA, capsid proteins, and mature virus] appears both at restrictive (40.5°) as well as at permissive (33°) temperatures. Kinetic studies show that the initial appearance of TSTA and TA is concurrent.     

Characterization of H2 influenza virus hemagglutinin with monoclonal antibodies: influence of receptor specificity

Antigenic analysis of human and avian H2 influenza viruses were done with monoclonal antibodies to the HA molecules in hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assays. These studies revealed that the receptor-binding specificity of the hemagglutinin can markedly influence the antigenic analysis obtained with monoclonal antibodies in HI tests. Influenza viruses that are sensitive or resistant to inhibition by horse serum inhibitors showed marked differences in their reactivity with monoclonal antibodies to the hemagglutinin. This was apparent with the A/RI/5+/57 and A/RI/5-/57 strains of H2N2 viruses isolated by Choppin and Tamm (1960a), half of the panel of different monoclonal antibodies failed to inhibit hemagglutination of the RI/5- variant, whereas all of the 18 monoclonal antibodies inhibited RI/5+. These findings have important implications in the antigenic analysis of influenza viruses where HI assays are conventionally used to determine the extent of antigenic drift in nature. Antigenic differences were detectable between different human H2 influenza virus isolates from 1957 that were sensitive to inhibition by horse serum, indicating that minor antigenic variation occurs within the first year of appearance of the new subtype. Minor antigenic variation continued in the H2 viruses until 1961, but by 1962 antigenically distinguishable variants that could be discriminated with both monoclonal antibodies and postinfection ferret antisera predominated. Analysis of avian H2 influenza viruses with a panel of monoclonal antibodies indicated that antigenic variation occurs and that multiple different variants cocirculate in the population. There was no progressive antigenic change in the avian H2 influenza viruses with time, as was found with the human H2N2 strains. Topographical mapping of the H2 hemagglutinin by selection of antigenic variants with monoclonal antibodies and analysis of their reactivity patterns by HI showed overlap between the epitopes examined. These results may reflect restriction in the antibody repertoire of the mice used in preparation of the monoclonal antibodies or that the H2 hemagglutinin does not have such discrete nonoverlapping antigenic regions found in the early H3 influenza virus.     

Nonintegrated viral DNA in rat cells doubly transformed by SV40 and polyoma virus.

Rat F2408 cells transformed by polyoma virus contain, in addition to integrated viral genomes, a small number (an average of 20–50 copies per cell) of nonintegrated viral DNA molecules. On the other hand, SV40-transformed rat cells contain only integrated viral genomes. SV40-transformed rat cells also differ from the polyoma transformants, in that they grow in soft agar medium at a much slower rate. Cells doubly transformed by polyoma and SV40 can be easily isolated following polyoma superinfection of SV40-transformed rat cells, as their rate of growth in agar is enhanced. These doubly transformed cells yield polyoma or SV40, respectively, after fusion with cells permissive for each virus. However, only polyoma-specific DNA sequences can be detected in these cells in a “free” state.     

Characterization of host cell binding variants of influenza virus by monoclonal antibodies

We have previously shown that a plaque-type mutant of influenza virus A/WSN has a growth advantage in MDBK cells because its hemagglutinin (HA) has a greater affinity for host cell receptors than does the HA of the parent virus. We show here that the mutant is also less sensitive than the parent to neutralization by antibodies to epitopes in at least two regions on the HA. WSN-specific monoclonal antibodies which had higher radioimmunoassay (RIA) titers against the parent than the mutant virus also had higher plaque inhibition (PI) and hemagglutination inhibition (HI) titers. In contrast, cross-reacting antibodies bound equally well to the parent and mutant viruses as judged by RIA but those which bound to the Cb region of the HA exhibited higher PI and HI titers against the parent virus. The results suggest that preferential neutralization of the parental virus by antibodies can contribute to the selective advantage of mutants which have increased affinity for cellular receptors.     

The antigenic structure of the influenza B virus hemagglutinin: operational and topological mapping with monoclonal antibodies

We have probed the antigenic structure of the influenza B virus hemagglutinin (HA) with monoclonal antibodies specific for the HA of influenza B virus, B/Oregon/5/80. Seventeen laboratory-selected antigenic variants of this virus were analyzed by hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) assays or ELISA and an operational antigenic map was constructed. In addition, the monoclonal antibodies were tested in a competitive binding assay to construct a topological map of the antigenic sites. In contrast to the influenza A virus HA, only a single immunodominant antigenic site composed of several overlapping clusters of epitopes was defined by the HI-positive antibodies. Three variants could be distinguished from the parental virus with polyclonal antisera by HI and infectivity reduction assays suggesting that changes in this antigenic site may be sufficient to provide an epidemiological advantage to influenza B viruses in nature. In addition, two nonoverlapping epitopes of unknown biological significance were identified in the competitive binding analysis by two monoclonal antibodies with no HI activity and little or no neutralizing activity. We previously identified single amino acid substitutions in the HAs of the antigenic variants used in this study (M. T. Berton, C. W. Naeve, and R. G. Webster (1984), J. Virol. 52, 919-927). These changes occurred in regions of the molecule which, by amino acid sequence alignment, appeared to correspond to proposed antigenic sites A and B on the H3 HA of influenza A virus. Correlation with the antigenic map established in this report, however, demonstrates that the amino acid residues actually contribute to a single antigenic site on the influenza B virus HA and suggests significant differences in the antigenic structures of the influenza A and B virus HAs.     

Polynucleotide sequences common to the genomes of simian virus 40 and the human papovaviruses JC and BK.

The DNA of the human papovavirus JC (JCV) was examined and compared to the genomes of simian virus 40 (SV40) and human papovavirus BK (BKV). Preparations from a nonplaque purified stock were heterogeneous and the molecular weight of the largest DNA species was calculated to be approximately 90% that of SV40 DNA. Studies of the kinetics of reassociation of radiolabeled JCV DNA in the presence of large excesses of SV40 or BKV DNAs revealed polynucleotide sequence homology of 11% between the genomes of JCV and SV40 and 25% between the genomes of JCV and BKV. Further studies demonstrated that the DNA sequences shared by JCV and SV40 are a subset of the sequences shared by JCV and BKV, and that these DNA sequences are common to the genomes of these three primate papovaviruses.     

Cloning of SV40 genomes from human brain tumors

From two human brain tumors SV40 genomes were isolated by recombinant DNA techniques. The SV40 genome cloned from a human meningioma DNA was shown to be indistinguishable from wild-type SV40. In contrast, the SV40 genome cloned from a human astrocytoma proved to be a nonviable deletion mutant with a truncated early region removing most of the large T-coding region. In addition, this mutant also carries a tandem duplication of an intact origin of replication.     

Oligomerization of simian virus 40 tumor antigen may be involved in viral DNA replication

Biological implications of the oligomerization of simian virus 40 (SV40) large T antigen for viral DNA replication were studied by using two temperature-sensitive SV40 A-gene mutants, tsA 58 and tsA 1499. Both mutants are defective at elevated temperature for viral DNA replication whereas tsA 58 is like most other tsA mutants additionally heat sensitive for cell transformation. We found that in contrast to tsA 58 encoded T antigen, tsA 1499 T antigen is thermostable in the ability to bind specifically to the origin of replication of SV40 DNA. Detailed structural analysis of tsA 1499 T antigen by sucrose density gradient centrifugation revealed that it is strictly temperature sensitive for the formation of homologous oligomers but, as we reported previously (M. Montenarh, M. Kohler, and R. Henning, 1984, J. Virol, 49, 658-664), not for the association with the cellular phosphoprotein p53. These observations are compatible with the idea that, in addition to the specific origin-binding ability as well as other functional features, the oligomerization of T antigen may be essential for viral DNA replication.     

The SV40 large T-p53 complex: evidence for the presence of two immunologically distinct forms of p53

The transforming protein of SV40 is the large T antigen. Large T binds a cellular protein, p53, which is potentially oncogenic by virtue of its functional involvement in the control of cell proliferation. This raises the possibility that p53 may mediate, in part, the transforming function of SV40 large T. Two immunologically distinct forms of p53 have been identified in normal cells: the forms are cell-cycle dependent, one being restricted to nondividing cells (p53-Go) and the second to dividing cells (p53-G divided by). We have now dissociated and probed the multimeric complex of SV40 large T-p53 for the presence of immunologically distinct forms of p53. Here we present evidence for the presence of p53-Go and p53-G divided by complexed with SV40 large T.     

The SV40 T-antigen gene can have two introns

F8dl is an SV40 early-region mutant that lacks over 60% of the DNA sequences normally used to encode large T antigen. This mutant employs a novel splice donor junction at nucleotide 4425 to produce a family of doubly spliced messages. A similar splicing pattern with wild-type SV40 mRNA has been observed, indicating that the wild-type gene for T antigen can also have two introns. A single G-to-T base change at nucleotide 4425 is sufficient to eliminate this novel donor splice junction.     

Antigenic determinants of influenza virus hemagglutinin. XI. Conformational changes detected by monoclonal antibodies

At pH 5 influenza virus hemagglutinin undergoes an irreversible conformational change (J.J. Skehel, P. M. Bayley, E. B. Brown, S. R. Martin, M. D. Waterfield, J. M. White, I. A. Wilson, and D. C. Wiley (1982). Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 79, 968-972) which parallels the appearance of fusion activity of this molecule. This paper describes experiments which explore the conformational change using a panel of monoclonal antibodies which define four of the major antigenic sites of this protein. The results indicate that three of the major antigenic sites of hemagglutinin undergo changes when exposed to acid pH. These changes have little effect on the binding avidity of influenza virus to glycophorin, the major receptor present on the red blood cell surface. These findings have been used to postulate a mechanism where the molecule flexes around a central region resulting in rearrangement in space of its component domains on exposure to low pH.     

Phosphorylation of SV40 large T antigen in SV40 nucleoprotein complexes

Plaques produced by our P^? mutants of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), which are defective in the inhibition of total protein synthesis in infected cells, stop increasing in size after several days of incubation under conditions where those produced by P⁺ mutants increase linearly in size. The basis for the arrest in size of P^? plaques has been shown to be due to the induction of interferon, and the phenotype is termed PIF⁺ for “plaque interferon positive.” Thus P^? plaques can inhibit the increase in size of adjacent P⁺ plaques and the factor responsible has the biological and physical properties of interferon. Also P^? mutants, when plaqued on VERO cells which cannot be induced to produce interferon, produce plaques which increase linearly in size like P⁺ plaques. Finally, the inclusion of anti-interferon antibody in the overlay medium also causes P^? mutants to produce plaques like P⁺ mutants. VERO cells were found to be useful to separate the effects of is mutations on plaque size from the interferon effect. Using other cell types the latter effect (PIF assay) can be used as an assay for the ability of viruses to induce interferon, for the isolation of PIF⁺ mutants from PIF^? virus, and as a test for the ability of cells to respond to interferon induction by PIF⁺ viruses. The assay can be increased in sensitivity through the use of specific cell types and of cell cultures preincubated for several days in the stationary phase of growth. In its most sensitive form, the assay could detect PIF⁺ behavior in certain ts mutants of VSV at permissive temperatures and in VSV mutants emerging from persistent infection. The assay has also been used to isolate novel mutants of VSV which show alterations in the viral P function.