Induction of mitochondrial DNA synthesis by polyoma virus

Mouse L cell mitochondrial DNA molecules are selected randomly for replication throughout the cell cycle

The number of mitochondrial DNA molecules in a cell population doubles at the same rate as the cell generation time. This could occur by a random selection of molecules for replication or by a process that ensures the replication of each individual molecule in the cell. We have investigated the rate at which mouse L cell mitochondrial DNA molecules labeled with 3H-thymidine during one round of replication are reselected for a second round of replication. Mouse L cells were labeled with 3H-thymidine for 2 hr, chased for various periods of time and then labeled with 5-bromodeoxyuridine for 4 hr immediately before mitochondrial DNA isolation. A constant fraction of 3H-thymidine-labeled mitochondrial DNA incorporated 5-bromodeoxyuridine after chase intervals ranging from 1.5-22 hr. This result demonstrates that mitochondrial DNA molecules replicated in a short time interval are randomly selected for later rounds of replication, and that replication of mitochondrial DNA continues throughout the cell cycle in mouse L cells.

Mitochondrial DNA synthesis in adenovirus type 2-infected HeLa cells

Mitochondrial DNA synthesis in adenovirus type 2-infected HeLa cells was measured at various times from 0 to 24 h postinfection. Although viral infection effectively turned off host chromosomal DNA synthesis, mitochondrial DNA synthesis was not inhibited. These findings indicate a dissociation between the regulation of host and mitochondrial DNA synthesis after infection with adenovirus type 2.

Independent regulation of the nuclear and mitochondrial DNA synthesis induced by either Simian virus 40 or serum in mouse fibroblast 3T3 cells

Resting cultures of 3T3 cells (an established line of mouse fibroblasts) were released from density inhibition by either infection with Simian virus 40 or addition of serum. The increased rate of thymidine incorporation into DNA, induced by these two agents, was measured in the presence and in the absence of three inhibitory conditions (cycloheximide or dibutyryladenosine 3':5'-monophosphate added to the medium, or lack of anchorage). The inhibition was found to be quite similar in cultures stimulated by virus or serum; under the same conditions, however, the incorporation into mitochondrial DNA was much less inhibited than that into nuclear DNA. The experiments also suggest that new protein synthesis may not be necessary, for either virus or serum, to start the inductive mechanism.

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.