Abortive transformation of rat 3Y1 cells by simian virus 40: viral function overcoming inhibition of cellular proliferation under various conditions of culture

Analysis of cellular DNA synthesis during polyoma virus infection of mice: acute infection fails to induce cellular DNA synthesis

It is widely believed that infection with various DNA viruses stimulates quiescent host cells to divide in preparation for virus replication. To examine this issue, the effects of acute polyoma virus infection on cellular DNA synthesis are observed in newborn mice. Using [3H]thymidine incorporation and fluorography of whole mouse sagittal sections, we observed clear, high-resolution images of organ-specific patterns of cellular DNA synthesis in newborn animals. No alteration in these patterns was observed during acute polyoma virus infection. Other methods, including measurements of [3H]thymidine-labeled DNA-specific activities in various tissues and in situ autoradiography, also failed to detect virus-induced alterations in cellular DNA synthesis. These results indicate that newborn animals have high endogenous levels of DNA synthesis and imply that acute polyoma virus infection may not be associated with further induced levels of cellular DNA synthesis.

Increase in c-fos and c-myc mRNA levels in untransformed and SV40-transformed 3Y1 fibroblasts after addition of serum: its relationship to the control of initiation of S phase

When rat 3Y1 fibroblasts were exposed to serum after 7.5 h of S, G2, and M phases in the absence of serum, the c-fos and c-myc mRNA levels markedly increased. This marked increase was also observed when density-arrested cells were stimulated with fresh serum to initiate proliferation. Increase in the c-fos and c-myc mRNA levels was not observed in cells that had traversed 7.5 h in these phases in the presence of serum. Cells passing through S, G2, and M phases in the absence of serum delayed entry into the next S phase approximately 8 h compared to control cells incubated in the presence of serum. Also, when density-arrested cells were stimulated with serum for 5 h, then deprived of serum for 8 h, and then incubated in serum again, the c-fos and c-myc mRNA levels increased. In this last case, the total excess time of serum exposure required to enter S phase was only 2 h, indicating that cells had not returned to the initial density-arrested state during the serum deprivation period. The increase in c-fos and c-myc mRNA levels following addition of serum after incubation in the absence of serum was also observed in SV40-transformed 3Y1 cells. The entry of SV40-transformed cells into S phase was not markedly affected by the absence of serum. These results can be explained by assuming that there is a process leading to the initiation of S phase that is operating or accumulating continuously in all cell cycle phases. In 3Y1 cells the expression of the c-fos and c-myc genes is required at any cell cycle phase, and the increase in c-fos and c-myc mRNA levels in response to changes in serum concentration simply reflects the possible overexpression due to the delay of a hypothesized negative feedback regulation. In SV40-transformed 3Y1 cells, the process leading to the initiation of S phase operates normally in response to growth factors, and the SV40 large T antigen supplements or enhances the process in the absence of the growth factors.

Selective killing of transformed fibroblasts by combined treatment with cycloheximide and aphidicolin

The possibility of selective killing of transformed cells in a mixed population of untransformed and transformed cells was examined using a cell culture system of rat 3Y1 fibroblasts (parental 3Y1 cells, 3Y1 cells transformed with either SV40, polyoma virus, Rous avian sarcoma virus, E1A gene of adenovirus type 12, or H-v-ras oncogene). The principle of the selective killing is as follows. Under suboptimal culture conditions, untransformed cells are inhibited from progressing through G1 phase and retain viability, while transformed cells are not arrested. When DNA synthesis is inhibited for a long period, both types of cells in S phase die. Therefore, if we administer inhibitors of G1 progression and of DNA synthesis simultaneously to a cell population consisting of untransformed and transformed cells, most untransformed cells are arrested in G1 phase, retaining viability, while transformed cells leak from the G1 phase, cease DNA synthesis, and gradually die The present study shows that all types of transformants in stationary-phase cultures (consisting of cells mainly with a G1 DNA content) were killed to higher extents compared with untransformed cells, during incubation at lower cell densities with a combination of cycloheximide (G1 inhibitor) and aphidicolin (DNA-synthesis inhibitor). However, cycloheximide reduced the killing effect of aphidicolin by changing the irreversible DNA-synthesis inhibition to a reversible inhibition. The availability of G1 inhibitors that do not interfere with the irreversibility of inhibition of DNA synthesis is required for the treatment of cancer based on this idea.

Effects of inhibitors of the cytoplasmic structures and functions on the early phase of infection of cultured cells with simian virus 40

To obtain information about cytoplasmic structures and functions involving the entry of simian virus 40 virions into cells, we examined whether the inhibitors that affect the functions and/or structure of lysosomes, cell membrane, and cytoskeletons inhibit expression of nuclear T antigen in the SV40-inoculated rat 3Y1 and monkey CV-1 cells. Chloroquine, methylamine, and butylamine did not inhibit T-antigen expression, suggesting that lysosomal acidification is not required for establishment of infection. Cytochalasin B had no effect, suggesting that microfilaments are not involved. Monensin, colcemid, and amantadine each inhibited T-antigen expression at doses causing no obvious cytotoxicity. Maximal inhibition was seen when these inhibitors were added to the cultures within 1 hr (monensin), within 4 hr (colcemid), or within 12 hr (amantadine) after virion adsorption to the cell surface. When the inhibitor was present in the virus-inoculated cultures for 24 hr and then removed, nuclear T antigen began to be expressed at 4 hr (monensin), 9 hr (colcemid), or 1 hr (amantadine) after removal of the inhibitors. Results of SDS-PAGE analysis of immunoprecipitated radiolabeled proteins of infected cells revealed that amantadine inhibited synthesis of large and small T antigens as well as general protein synthesis. Inhibition by colcemid may be due to disruption of microtubules, because other microtubule-disrupting agents (colchicine, vinblastine, nocodazole, and podophyllotoxin) also inhibited appearance of nuclear T antigen but lumicolchicine and taxol did not. Electron microscopy revealed that, in the presence of colcemid, although the adsorbed virions were readily internalized to form pinosomes, vectorial movement of the pinosomes to the nucleus appeared to be inhibited. Results of electron microscopy also suggest that inhibition by monensin may occur mainly in internalization of adsorbed virions and that the inhibition is leaky such that the early steps of infection proceed slowly in the presence of monensin. We conclude that monensin, colcemid, and amantadine interfere with mutually different early events of SV40 infection.

Activation of purified simian virus 40 virions by free amino-group containing phospholipid liposomes

The infectivity of the simian virus 40 (SV40) virions purified after treatment with sodium deoxycholate is activated by mixing, prior to infection, the virions with the liposomes composed of phosphatidylserine or a mixture of phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylcholine (H. Shimura, and G. Kimura (1985), Virology 144, 268-272). The sucrose-CsCl cushion sedimentation analysis of the virions mixed with the liposomes revealed that the density of the radiolabeled virions became lower and that of the radiolabeled liposomes became higher to give a similar range, suggesting the binding of virions with the liposomes. Electron microscopy revealed the side-to-side association of virions with liposomes. The efficiency of adsorption of the virions to monkey kidney BSC-1 cells varied depending on phospholipid types mixed with virions and did not always become high. In the case of phosphatidylethanolamine liposomes, the free amino group in the phospholipid molecule was essential for the activation of the virion infectivity, because mono- and di-methylated phosphatidylethanolamine failed to activate the infectivity. Fluid nature of phospholipids seemed to be necessary also for the infectivity activation, because dipalmitoyl and distearoyl phospholipids did not activate virion infectivity at 37 degrees, the temperature at which the liposomes of these phospholipids are supposed to be in a solid state. Presence of free amino groups and difference in acyl groups of the phospholipids did not influence the adsorption of the virions to cells. These results suggest that events which occur after adsorption of virions to cells are responsible for the activation of the SV40 virion infectivity by the liposomes composed of free amino-group containing phospholipids.

Accumulation of cells with 4N DNA content at nonpermissive temperature in rat embryo diploid cells transformed by tsA mutant of simian virus 40

Primary rat embryo cells were transformed by a tsA mutant (tsA640) of simian virus 40 (SV40). Proliferation of all four independent diploid transformants was suppressed at a nonpermissive temperature (40.3 degrees C), being accompanied by a marked increase in the fraction of cells with a 4N DNA content (a 4N peak in the flow cytofluorogram). However, in this case, the fraction of cells with a 2N DNA content (a 2N peak in the flow cytofluorogram) was preserved. Both effects (suppression of proliferation and increase in the 4N peak) diminished when transformed cells were superinfected with wild-type SV40. The increased 4N peak was preserved, albeit not completely, for at least 24 hours, when cells were further incubated in the presence of hydroxyurea at the nonpermissive temperature. On the other hand, the preserved 2N peak all but disappeared within 24 hours, when cells were further incubated in the presence of colcemid at the nonpermissive temperature. These results suggest that the thermolabile large T antigen of SV40 directly or indirectly induces an accumulation of cells with a 4N DNA content, at the nonpermissive temperature, by prolonging the G2 (and/or late S) period.

Serum-dependent control of entry into S phase of next generation in rat 3Y1 fibroblasts. Effect of large T antigen of simian virus 40

When rat 3Y1 fibroblasts are deprived of serum in S phase and/or G2 phase in the first generation, the cells delay entry into S phase in the second generation for the duration of the serum deprivation. We can now show that when resting 3Y1 cells are infected with Simian virus 40 (SV40), the removal of serum through S and G2 phases in the first generation does not markedly delay entry into S phase in the second generation. These observations suggest that the serum-dependent control of entry into S phase of the second generation continues from the first generation, and that the abolition of this control by infection with SV40 in the first generation involves the mechanism operative when the resting cells are stimulated to enter S phase (of the first generation) by infection with SV40.

Effects of sodium n-butyrate on entry into S phase in resting rat 3Y1 cells infected with simian virus 40

In quiescent rat 3Y1 fibroblasts infected with simian virus 40 (SV40), sodium butyrate elongated the time lag before entry into S phase in a concentration-dependent fashion. In spite of the elongated time lags, SV40-infected cells entered S phase in a very synchronous mode, irrespective of the butyrate concentrations. The elongated time lag seemed to be at least partially due to a delayed synthesis and a delayed accumulation of large T antigen caused by butyrate. The entry into S phase was also delayed even when butyrate was added to the cultures after expression of T antigen to an extent sufficient for untreated cells to enter S phase. This suggests that butyrate may also inhibit a cellular event(s) that is required for entry into S phase after expression of the T antigen. In contrast, serum-stimulated cells were more sensitive to butyrate with respect to entry into S phase than SV40-infected cells, and the distribution of the time lag among cell populations increased (i.e., asynchrony in entry into S phase increased) with an increase in the butyrate concentration.

Cell growth and differentiation in vitro in mouse macrophages transformed by a tsA mutant of simian virus 40. III. Large T antigen level and cell proliferation and survival in an SV40 tsA640-transformed macrophage line

The levels of simian virus 40 (SV40) large T antigen in a tsA-transformed mouse macrophage line at the permissive (33 degrees C) and the nonpermissive (39 degrees C) temperature were examined by immunofluorescence, sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, complement fixation, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. When the cells were confluent and rested at 33 degrees C, and then were shifted to 39 degrees C, the amount of large T antigen per cell decreased, and most cells survived and remained phagocytic. When the cells were proliferating at 33 degrees C, and then were shifted to 39 degrees C, the cells died with only a small reduction in the amount of large T antigen. Therefore, the physiological state of the cells may determine the survival of cells by affecting the level of large T antigen after exposure to 39 degrees. The confluent cells may be rested with a concomitant decrease of large T antigen. The proliferating cells may not survive in the presence of a relatively high level of functionally defective large T antigen at 39 degrees C.

Abortive transformation of temperature-sensitive mutants of rat 3Y1 cells by simian virus 40: effect of cellular arrest states on entry into S phase and cellular proliferation

Four temperature-sensitive (ts) mutants of rat 3Y1 fibroblasts, representing independent complementation groups, cease to proliferate predominantly with a 2n DNA content, at the restrictive temperature (39.8 degrees C) (temperature arrest) or at the permissive temperature (33.8 degrees C) at a confluent cell density (density arrest) (Ohno et al., 1984). We studied the temperature- or the density-arrested cells of these mutants infected with simian virus 40 (SV40) or its mutants affecting large T or small t antigen with respect to kinetics at 39.8 degrees C of entry into S phase and cellular proliferation. Three mutants, 3Y1tsD123, 3Y1tsF121 and 3Y1tsG125, expressed T antigen and entered S phase at 39.8 degrees C from both the arrested states after infection with either wild-type, tsA mutants, or a .54/.59 deletion mutant of SV40, whereas in the density-arrested 3Y1tsH203, expression of T antigen and entry into S phase were inefficient and ts. Following the WT-SV40 induced entry into S phase, the temperature-arrested 3Y1tsD123 detached from the substratum with no detectable increase in cell number, whereas the density-arrested ones completed a round of the cell cycle and then detached. 3Y1tsF121 and 3Y1tsG125 in the both arrested states proliferated through more than one generation. 3Y1tsF121 and 3Y1tsG125 in the density-arrested state infected with tsA mutants once proliferated and then ceased to increase in number as the percentage of T-antigen positive population decreased. These results suggest that wild-type and tsA-mutated large T antigens are able to overcome the cellular ts blocks of entry into S phase in the 3 ts mutants of 3Y1 cells in both the arrested states, and that small t antigen is not required to overcome the blocks. It is also suggested that cellular behaviors subsequent to S phase (viability, mitosis, and proliferation in the following generations) depend on cellular arrest states, on traits of cellular ts defects, and on the duration of large T antigen expression.

Control in previous and present generations of preparation for entry into S phase and the relationship to resting state in 3Y1 rat fibroblastic cells

In both the presence and absence of serum, 3Y1 rat fibroblastic cells synchronized at early S phase by aphidicolin entered M phase 6 h after removal of aphidicolin. However, in the second generation their entry into S phase in the presence of serum was delayed due to the deprivation of serum in the first generation. A similar delaying effect in the second generation was observed when the resting cells were stimulated by serum and then deprived of serum during a period of 8 h preceding mitosis. In both cases, the interval between mitosis and entry into S phase in the second generation was almost equal to that required for the resting cells to enter S phase when stimulated by serum. A similar delaying effect was also observed when the cells, synchronized at early S phase, were kept in suspension culture in the presence of serum for a period in the first generation. Results of a similar type of experiments using various combinations of growth factors showed that, when the G1 period in the second generation was shortened by exposure to growth factors in the first generation, and when the resting cells were stimulated to enter S phase, the same combination of growth factors was required. These and previous results suggest that the preparation for entry into S phase is controlled in both previous and present generations of 3Y1 cells.