The investigation of oncogeic viral genomes in transformed cells by nucleic acid hybridization

Isolation and characterization of DNA-DNA and DNA-RNA

A simple method for the isolation and characterization of DNA-DNA and DNA-RNA hybrid molecules formed in solution was developed. It was based on the fact that, in appropriate salt concentration, such as 5% Na2HPO4, DNA in either double-stranded (DNA-DNA or DNA-RNA) or single-stranded forms, but not free nucleotides, can bind to diethylaminoethylcellulose disc filters (DE81). Thus tested samples were treated with the single-strand-specific nuclease S1 and then applied to DE81 filters. The free nucleotides, resulting from degrading the single-stranded molecules, were removed by intensive washing with 5% Na2HPO4, leaving only the hybrid molecules on the filters. The usefulness of this method was illustrated in dissociation and reassociation studies of viral (SV40) or cellular (NIH/3T3) DNAs and DNA-RNA hybrid molecules. Using this technique the reassociation of denatured SV40 DNA was found to be a very rapid process. Dissociation studies revealed that the melting curves of tested DNAs were dependent on salt concentration. Thus the melting temperatures (tm) obtained for SV40 DNA were 76 degrees C at 1 X SSC (0.15 M NaCl-0.015 M sodium citrate) and 65 degrees C at 0.1 X SSC, and for NIH/3T3 DNA 82 degrees C at 1 X SSC and 68 degrees C at 0.1 X SSC. MuLV DNA-RNA hybrid molecules were formed by annealing in vitro synthesized MuLV DNA with 70S MuLV RNA at 68 degrees C. The melting temperature of this hybrid in the annealing solution was 87 degrees C. Another important feature of this procedure was that, after being selectively bound to the filters, the hybrid molecules could efficiently be recovered by heating the filters for 5 min at 60 degrees C in 1.5-1.7 M KCl. The recovered molecules were intact hybrids as they were found to be completely resistant to S1 nuclease.

Some mechanisms operative in carcinogenesis a review

Multiple factors contribute to the development of neoplasia. Sometimes a single agency can bring about a tumour if it has many different effects, but at other times a tumour arises more insidiously due to a succession of events [240,241] which by themselves may be innocent. Alterations in the genome of the cell are at the fore-front of our interest because they can be brought about by most of the carcinogenic agents we know. The cell can repair some such alterations but both forward and destructive mutations do appear. The roles of cell proliferation, cell differentiation, the immune mechanism and carcinogen-activating enzymes are beginning to be understood. The effects of dose, route of administration, and of other agents given at the same time [242-245] must not be lost sight of. Other factors no doubt will be added as we begin to look at the structure and function of cell-surface membranes [246-248], at host susceptibility genetics [26, 249], and at the generation of carcinogens inside the body [250,251]. We are only beginning to understand carcinogenesis. In no single instance do we as yet know how a tumour comes about in full details of molecular biology. It is possible that fully rational treatment of cancer will not be possible until we have such an understanding. Once a tumour becomes independent of carcinogenic factors, it continues to develop in a bizarre fashion which makes its study and treatment by all means other than surgery difficult.

Cell-free translation of messenger RNA of simian virus 40: synthesis of the major capsid protein

Extracts of wheat germ are capable of synthesizing the major capsid protein of simian virus 40. Poly(A)-containing RNA from BS-C-1 cells infected with simian virus 40 directed the synthesis of a novel polypeptide that migrates in polyacrylamide gels together with the major capsid polypeptide of simian virus 40, VP-1. The patterns of the major tryptic peptides of purified VP-1 and the novel polypeptide synthesized in vitro were identical after two-dimensional paper electrophoresis. The novel polypeptide was not synthesized in response to poly(A)-rich RNA from uninfected cells or from virus-infected cells treated with cytosine arabinoside. Messenger RNA from infected cells purified by selective hybridization to DNA of simian virus 40 directs the synthesis of a major polypeptide of electrophoretic mobility similar to that of VP-1 of simian virus 40. This approach should prove useful in identifying additional products specified by DNA tumor viruses.

Fate of infecting simian virus 40-deoxyribonucleic acid in nonpermissive cells: integration into host deoxyribonucleic acid

Nonpermissive 3T3 cells were infected with purified superhelical simian virus 40 (SV40) deoxyribonucleic acid I (DNA I). One hour after infection, approximately 60% of the intracellular SV40 DNA was converted to relaxed forms. One day after infection, all intracellular SV40 DNA was present as slow-sedimenting material, and no SV40 DNA I was detectable. At 2 days after infection there appeared viral DNA sequences cosedimenting with cellular DNA during alkaline velocity centrifugation. Furthermore, by both alkaline equilibrium gradient centrifugation and by DNA-ribonucleic acid hybridization analysis, covalent linkage of viral DNA sequences to cellular DNA was demonstrated. Integration of SV40 DNA into cellular DNA did not appear to require DNA synthesis, although DNA synthesis followed by mitotic division of the cells enhanced the amount of viral DNA integrated. Based on data obtained by two different methods, it was calculated that 1,100 to 1,200 SV40 DNA equivalents must be integrated per cell by 48 hr after infection.

Acquisition of sequences homologous to host deoxyribonucleic acid by closed circular simian virus 40 deoxyribonucleic acid

The synthesis of closed circular simian virus 40 (SV40) deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) containing sequences homologous to host cell DNA depends upon the conditions under which the cells are infected. When BS-C-1 monkey cells were infected with non-plaque-purified virus at low multiplicity of infection [MOI, 0.032 plaque-forming units (PFU)/cell], little, if any, of the SV40 DNA extracted from the infected cells hybridized to host DNA; but when increasingly higher multiplicities were used (in the range 0.16 to 3,000 PFU/cell), an increasingly greater amount of the extracted SV40 DNA hybridized to host DNA. The same effect was observed when the closed circular SV40 DNA was extracted from purified virions (grown at low and high MOI) rather than from the infected cell complex. When the cells were infected at high MOI with plaque-purified virus (11 viral clones were tested), none of the SV40 DNA extracted from the cells hybridized detectably with host cell DNA. However, plaque-purified virus that was serially passaged, undiluted, induced the synthesis of virus DNA which again showed extensive homology to host DNA. It is suggested that, under certain circumstances, recombination occurs between viral and host DNA during lytic infection which results in the incorporation of host DNA sequences into closed circular SV40 DNA.