Characterization of the simian virus 40-specific messenger RNAs isolated from HeLa cells infected with the non-defective adenovirus 2-simian virus 40 hybrid viruses Ad2+ND2 and Ad2+ND4

Synthesis of the Ad2+ND5-specified 42K protein is regulated posttranscriptionally in abortively infected monkey cells

In abortive infections of monkey cells by Ad2+ND5, the synthesis of the simian virus 40-specific 42,000-molecular-weight (42K) protein was reduced approximately 10-fold compared with a productive coinfection by Ad2+ND5 plus Ad2hr400 and about 20-fold compared with productive infections by Ad2+ND5 plus simian virus 40 or by Ad2+ND2 alone. However, the level of Ad2+ND5-specific mRNA was depressed twofold or less in abortive infections compared with productive infections. Moreover, the 42K mRNA isolated from abortive Ad2+ND5 infections translated in vitro with the same efficiency as the mRNA isolated from productive coinfections. This is analogous to the block to synthesis of the adenovirus fiber polypeptide in monkey cells (Anderson and Klessig, J. Mol. Appl. Genet. 2:31-43, 1983). Also like fiber protein, the increased level of the 42K protein found in productive infections was due to enhanced synthesis, not increased stability of the protein. Our results suggest that the synthesis of the Ad2+ND5-specified 42K protein and the adenovirus fiber protein are regulated in similar posttranscriptional manners.

Discrete regions of simian virus 40 large T antigen are required for nonspecific and viral origin-specific DNA binding

The nondefective adenovirus type 2 (Ad2)-simian virus 40 (SV40) hybrid viruses, Ad2+ND2 and Ad2+ND4, have been used to determine which regions of the SV40 genome coding for the large tumor (T) antigen are involved in specific and nonspecific DNA binding. Ad2+ND2 encodes 45,000 M4 (45K) and 56,000 Mr (56K) T antigen-related polypeptides. The 45K polypeptide did not bind to DNA, but the 56K polypeptide bound nonspecifically to calf thymus DNA, Ad2+ND4 encodes 50,000 Mr (60K), 66,000 Mr (66K), 70,000 Mr (70K), 74,000 Mr (74K), and 90,000 Mr (90K) T antigen-related polypeptides, all of which bound nonspecifically to calf thymus DNA. However, in more stringent assays, where tight binding to viral origin sequences was tested, only the 90K protein specified by Ad2A+ND4 showed specific high affinity for sequences at the viral origin of replication. From these results and previously published experiments describing the SV40 DNA integrated into these hybrid viruses, it was concluded that SV40 early gene sequences located between 0.39 and 0.44 SV40 map units contribute to nonspecific DNA binding, whereas sequences located between 0.50 and 0.63 SV40 map units are necessary for specific binding to the viral origin of replication.

Expression of adenovirus type 2 late genes in HeLa cells infected with adenovirus type 2 or adenovirus type 2-simian virus 40 hybrid viruses

The relative levels of expression of the five 3'-coterminal mRNA families encode in the 16.4 to 99 map unit transcription unit of adenovirus type 2 (Ad2) are determined in part by the frequency of utilization of five possible polyadenylation sites. The possibility that polyadenylation frequencies at these sites may be regulated was tested by examining the expression of the fiber (polypeptide IV) gene in cells infected with nondefective (ND) Ad2-simian virus 40 hybrid viruses which express a sixth late mRNA family. Both the relative rate of fiber protein synthesis and the relative abundance of fiber mRNA were normal in cells infected with the hybrid viruses Ad2+ND1, Ad2+ND2, or Ad2+ND4.

Genomic arrangement of an adenovirus-simian virus 40 hybrid virus, Ad2+ND4del

Ad2+ND4del is an adenovirus type 2-simian virus 40 hybrid virus nondefective for growth in human cells. The virus was first observed when stocks of Ad2+ND4, a hybrid isolated from primary monkey kidney cells, were propagated in human cells. This paper describes the DNA sequence at two sites of DNA recombination, the site of the left adenovirus type 2-simian virus 40 junction and the site of a deletion of internal simian virus 40 sequences. Since the deletion was observed when the virus was switched from monkey to human cells, an analysis of gene expression in the region of DNA rearrangement may prove useful for the elucidation of molecular events that accompany virus growth in different hosts.