Inhibition of simian virus 40 DNA replication by specific modification of T-antigen with oxidized ATP

Association of p53 binding and immortalization of primary C57BL/6 mouse embryo fibroblasts by using simian virus 40 T-antigen mutants bearing internal overlapping deletion mutations

To more precisely map the immortalization and p53 binding domains of T antigen, a large series of overlapping deletion mutations were created between codons 251 to 651 by utilizing a combination of Bal 31 deletion and oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis. Immortalization assay results indicated that amino acids (aa) 252 to 350, 400, and 451 to 532 could be removed without seriously compromising immortalization, although the appearance of immortal colonies was delayed in some cases. Western immunoblotting experiments indicated that the p53 binding capacities of T antigen produced by mutants missing aa 252 to 300, 301 to 350, 400, or 451 to 532 were only slightly reduced relative to that of wild-type T antigen. Within the limits of this deletion analysis, the immortalization and p53 binding domains appear to be colinear and, in fact, may represent two aspects of the same domain. This deletion analysis eliminates the entire zinc finger domain (aa 302 to 320), a small portion of the leucine-rich region (aa 345 to 350), and a large portion of the ATP binding domain (aa 451 to 528) as participants in p53 binding or in the immortalization process. The results also show that removal of T antigen amino acids within the region 451 to 532 appears to alter the capacity of newly synthesized but not older T antigen and p53 molecules to form complexes.

Specific mutation of a regulatory site within the ATP-binding region of simian virus 40 large T antigen

In an attempt to distinguish simian virus 40 (SV40) large T antigen (T) binding to ATP from hydrolysis, specific mutations were made in the ATP-binding site of T according to our model for the site (M. K. Bradley, T. F. Smith, R. H. Lathrop, D. M. Livingston, and T. A. Webster, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 84:4026-4030, 1987). Two acidic residues predicted to make contact with the magnesium phosphate were changed to alanines. The mutated T gene was completely defective for viral DNA synthesis and for virion production, and it was dominant defective for viral DNA replication. The defective T gene encoded a stable product (2905T) that oncogenically transformed mouse cell lines. 2905T, immunoprecipitated from transformed-cell extracts, bound SV40 origin DNA specifically and, surprisingly, it was active as an ATPase. A recombinant baculovirus was constructed for the production and purification of the mutant protein for detailed biochemical analyses. 2905T had only 10% of the ATPase and helicase of wild-type T. The Km of 2905T for ATP in ATPase assays was the same as the Km of wild-type T. ATP activated the ATPase activity of wild-type T, but not of 2905T. As tested by gel bandshift assay, 2905T bound to SV40 origin DNA and to individual sites I and II with affinities similar to that of the wild type. However, ATP did not modulate the DNA-binding activity of mutant T to site II. Therefore, this mutation in the ATP-binding site in T resulted in defects in the interaction between the protein and ATP that appeared to be responsible for the determination of the active state of T for DNA binding versus ATPase.

Alterations in the structure of new and old forms of simian virus 40 large T antigen (T) defined by age-dependent epitope changes: new T is the same as ATPase-active T

The reactivity of simian virus 40 large T antigen labeled under pulse-chase conditions towards 22 antibodies was measured. Changes in epitope reactivity occurred in several domains of T as it matured, defining major structural alterations that distinguished mature from new molecules. New T reacted best with the same antibodies that bind and inhibit ATPase-active T. These antibodies thus can distinguish new T as a distinct structural and functional form.

Characterization of polyoma virus early proteins expressed from vaccinia virus recombinants

We previously reported that live recombinant vaccinia viruses (VV) encoding either the large T (LT) or middle T (MT) antigens of polyoma virus (PyV) were able to induce rejection of tumors caused by PyV-transformed cells [Lathe et al., Nature 326 (1987) 878-880]. Here we present evidence that PyV early proteins expressed by the recombinants retain the biochemical characteristics of their authentic counterparts despite the cytopathic effect of VV infection. VV-encoded LT is a nuclear phosphoprotein, with specific DNA binding, ATPase and nucleotide-binding activities. VV-expressed MT associates with cellular kinases, particularly with pp60c-src, by which it is phosphorylated in vitro. Expression levels of LT and MT reached 10(6) molecules per infected cell. The use of VV as a vector is encouraged by the high expression level obtained and because VV infection does not seem to prevent appropriate post-translational processing of proteins encoded by VV recombinants.