Induction of mitochondrial DNA synthesis in monkey cells infected by simian virus 40 and (or) treated with calf serum

Infection of confluent monolayer cultures of African green monkey kidney cells with simian virus 40 results in an enhanced synthesis of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA. This is demonstrated both by an increased rate of incorporation of [(3)H]thymidine into mitochondrial DNA and by detection of increased amounts of mitochondrial DNA in infected cells. With monkey BSC-1 cells, where SV40 infection does not result in a stimulation of nuclear DNA synthesis, no stimulation of mitochondrial DNA synthesis is observed. SV40 infection of mouse 3T3 cells also stimulates nuclear and mitochondrial DNA synthesis.

Properties of DNA from some malarial parasites

The base compositions of DNA from some species of malarial parasite have been estimated by measurement of density in CsCl gradients and of thermal denaturation temperatures. Species from avian (Plasmodium gallinaceum) and rodent (P. bergheiandP. vinckei) hosts – often used as model systems in malarial studies – contain single DNA components with base compositions of about 20% G + C. By contrast, species from primate hosts (P. knowlesiandP. falciparum) contain major DNA components of about 40% G + C and minor ones of about 20% G + C. These differences could be reflexions of markedly different genomes within these two groups of the genusPlasmodium.

Apart from differences in base composition, the physico-chemical properties of the main components of DNA from primate and rodent malarial parasites are very similar to those of DNA from mammalian cells. DNA from avian malarial parasites appears to have some unusual properties.

One of us (P.I.T.) received financial assistance from the World Health Organization. We thank Dr F. Hawking and Dr J. Williamson for many helpful discussions, Dr W. H. G. Richards, Dr A. Voller and Dr D. C. Warhurst for the provision of some of the strains and Miss Jane Dunnett, Mrs A. C. Gutteridge and Mr T. Scott-Finnigan for technical assistance.

Studies of nondefective adenovirus 2-simian virus 40 hybrid viruses. II. Relationship of adenovirus 2 deoxyribonucleic acid and simian virus 40 deoxyribonucleic acid in the Ad2+ND genome

A nondefective adenovirus 2 (Ad2)-simian virus 40 (SV40) hybrid virus, Ad2(+)ND(1), has been plaque-isolated from an Ad2-SV40 hybrid population. This virus, unlike the defective Ad-SV40 hybrid populations previously described, replicates without the aid of nonhybrid adenovirus helper. Consequently, the hybrid virus deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) can be obtained free of nonhybrid adenovirus DNA. The DNA of the Ad2(+)ND(1) virus was shown by ribonucleic acid (RNA)-DNA hybridization to consist of nucleotide sequences complementary to Ad2- and SV40-specific RNA. Techniques of equilibrium density and rate zonal centrifugation were employed to demonstrate that these Ad2 and SV40 nucleotide sequences were linked together in the same DNA molecules by alkali-resistant bonds. Calibration curves were established relating the amount of tritium-labeled SV40-specific RNA (prepared in vitro or in vivo) bound to given amounts of SV40 DNA in a hybridization reaction, and these curves were employed to determine the equivalent amount of SV40 DNA in the Ad2(+)ND(1) molecule. From the results obtained, it was estimated that 1% of the Ad2(+)ND(1) DNA consists of SV40 nucleotide sequences.