Analysis of the genome of type 7 simian adenovirus using restrictases

Complete genome sequence of simian adenovirus 1: an Old World monkey adenovirus with two fiber genes

Simian adenovirus 1 (SAdV-1) is one of many adenovirus strains that were isolated from Old World monkey cells during poliomyelitis vaccine production several decades ago. Despite the availability of these viruses, knowledge of their genetic content and phylogeny is rudimentary. In the present study, the genome sequence of SAdV-1 (34 450 bp) was determined and analysed. In regions where genetic content varies between primate adenoviruses, SAdV-1 has a single virus-associated RNA gene, six genes in each of the E3 and E4 regions and two fiber genes. SAdV-1 clusters phylogenetically with HAdV-40, a member of human adenovirus species HAdV-F, which also has two fiber genes. However, based on phylogenetic distances and other taxonomic criteria, SAdV-1 is proposed to represent a novel adenovirus species.

Analysis of the first complete genome sequence of an Old World monkey adenovirus reveals a lineage distinct from the six human adenovirus species

Simian adenovirus 3 (SAdV-3) is one of several adenoviruses that were isolated decades ago from Old World monkeys. Determination of the complete DNA sequence of SAdV-3 permitted the first full genomic comparison of a monkey adenovirus with adenoviruses of humans (HAdVs) and chimpanzees, which are recognized formally as constituting six of the species (HAdV-A to HAdV-F) within the genus Mastadenovirus. The SAdV-3 genome is 34 246 bp in size and has a G+C content of 55.3 mol%. It contains all the genes that are characteristic of the genus Mastadenovirus and has a single VA-RNA gene and six genes in each of the E3 and E4 regions. The genetic organization is the same as that of HAdV-12, a member of the HAdV-A species. Phylogenetic analyses showed that although SAdV-3 is related marginally more closely to HAdV-A and HAdV-F than to other species, it represents a unique lineage that branched at an early stage of primate adenovirus divergence. The results imply that the genetic layout in SAdV-3 and HAdV-12 may also have characterized the common ancestor of all sequenced primate adenoviruses.

Analysis of DNA from human adenovirus type 6 with restriction endonucleases HindIII, BglIII and BamHI

The genome of the type 6 human adenovirus has three restriction sites for R.BamHI, thirteen for R.HindIII and ten for R.BglII. The terminal fragments of DNA cleaved by each of the enzymes have been determined by means of terminal nucleotidyl transferase and by analysis of the DNA-terminal protein complex. The sequence of the cleaved fragments has been determined by partial cleavage of DNA, simultaneous digestion of DNA with various combinations of enzymes and secondary digestion of individual isolated fragments with other enzymes. The following order of the cleaved fragments in the adenovirus type 6 genome has been found (the figures in brackets are the weights in mega-daltons): for R.BamHI-B(7.1)-D(3.0)-C(4.05)-A(8.5); for R.HindIII-F(1.7)-C1(2.14)-A(3.44)-M(0.046)-I(1.24)-J(0.77)-D(2.1)-E(1.96)-B(3.18)-H(1.36)-L(0.18)-C2(2.14)-G(1.44)-K(0.16); for R.BglII-E(2.07)-B(3.58)-A(4.8)-C(3.36)-I(0.78)-D(3.25)-G(1.37)-J(0.21)-F(1.85)-K(0.17)-H(0.94).

Biological activity of the intact and cleaved DNA of the simian adenovirus 7

Only the deproteinized DNA preparations of the simian adenovirus of the type 7 (SA 7) exhibited transforming and tumorigenic activity. The complex of the SA7 DNA with terminal protein (TP) did not exhibit either transforming or tumorigenic activity in cell cultures. In contrast to the transforming potential the infectious titers of the DNA - TP complex for the monkey kidney cells were 30-50 times higher than those of pure DNA. Cleavage of the SA7 DNA by specific endonucleases enhanced the tumorigenic potential of pure DNA, suppressed its infectivity and did not affect the lack of transformation capacity of the DNA - TP complex. The onc-gene was localized in the left terminal fragment with the minimal size 4,3x10(6)D in the case of R.Sal I. The tumorigenic activity was found to decrease with an increase in the size of the DNA fragment containing the onc-gene.