Induction of cellular deoxyribonuleic acid synthesis by simian virus 40

SV40: Cell transformation and tumorigenesis

The story of SV40-induced tumorigenesis and cellular transformation is intimately entwined with the development of modern molecular biology. Because SV40 and other viruses have small genomes and are relatively easy to manipulate in the laboratory, they offered tractable systems for molecular analysis. Thus, many of the early efforts to understand how eukaryotes replicate their DNA, regulate expression of their genes, and translate mRNA were focused on viral systems. The discovery that SV40 induces tumors in certain laboratory animals and transforms many types of cultured cells offered the first opportunity to explore the molecular basis for cancer. The goal of this article is to highlight some of the experiments that have led to our current view of SV40-induced transformation and to provide some context as to how they contributed to basic research in molecular biology and to our understanding of cancer.

T antigen and initiation of cell DNA synthesis in a temperature-sensitive mouse line transformed by an SV40tsA mutant and in heterokaryons of the transformed cells and chick erythrocytes

The role of SV40 gene A product in initiation of cellular DNA synthesis was investigated, using a mouse kidney line [mKSA207] transformed by SV40tsA207. mKSA207 cells were temperature sensitive for growth, lost SV40 T antigen (Tag) when incubated in low serum at 40degreeC, and accumulated Tag in the cytoplasm when fed 10% serum and incubated at the nonpermissive temperature (39.7degreeC). Following serum addition, the percentage of mKSA207 cells synthesizing DNA was essentially the same at nonpermissive (39.7 degrees C) and permissive temperatures (33.5degreeC). The cells entered S phase asynchronously at both temperatures, but most cells entered S within 16 h, and before Tag accumulated. mKSA207 synchronized by a double thymidine block also synthesized DNA at 39.7degreesC and entered a second S phase. Tag-depleted or Tag-synchronized mKSA207, when fused with chick erythrocytes (CE), activated CE DNA synthesis. At nonpermissive temperatures (39.7degreesC), 40% of CE nuclei in heterokaryons with Tag-depleted mKSA207 displayed 3H-thymidine--labeled nuclei 28--40 h after fusion, when only 12% of CE nuclei were Tag+. The experiments indicate that SV40 gene A product probably does not have a direct role as initiator of cellular DNA synthesis.

DNA polymerase activities in growing cells infected with simian virus 40

Growing CV1 cells were infected with simian virus 40 (SV40), and the levels of DNA polymerases-alpha, -beta, and -gamma were analyzed in the cytoplasm, nuclear Triton wash, and nucleus. In the cytoplasmic fraction, the amount of alpha-, beta-, or gamma-polymerase remained unaltered after SV40 infection. The activity of DNA polymerase-alpha increased five- to sixfold in the nuclear Triton wash and threefold in the nuclei and then remained enhanced only inside the nuclei. That of DNA polymerases-beta and gamma increased mostly in the nuclei after infection. These results suggest that DNA polymerase-alpha could be the major enzyme involved in SV40 DNA replication.

Inhibition of simian virus 40 DNA synthesis in Yaba virus-preinfected cells

The effect of Yaba virus preinfection on DNA synthesis in SV40-infected Jinet cells was studied. Time-course synthesis studies were conducted using the incorporation of labeled thymidine. Yaba virus preinfection resulted in the inhibition of SV40 DNA synthesis when the elapsed time between Yaba virus and SV40 infections was three days. This inhibition was demonstrated by hybridization studies and sedimentation analysis. In addition, the usual stimulation of cellular DNA synthesis induced by SV40 infection was inhibited. This inhibition occurred at a time in Yaba virus infection when no cytoplasmic Yaba virus-specific DNA synthesis occurred.

The effect of arginine deprivation on DNA, thymidine kinase and RNA polymerase synthesis in simian virus 40-infected monkey kidney cells

In arginine-deprived cells infected with simian virus 40 (SV40), both viral DNA and viral structural proteins were synthesized but infectious virus was not produced. The syntheses of cellular DNA, thymidine kinase and DNA polymerase were induced in virus-infected cells deprived of arginine but the maximum rate of synthesis of these enzymes occurred much later than that in infected cells incubated in the presence of arginine.

Thymidine kinase, DNA synthesis and cancer

A resume has been presented of some recent investigations which show that DNA synthesis can be initiated in many types of quiescent animal cells by external stimuli, by introducing a quiescent nucleus into the cytoplasm of a proliferating cell, or by a virus infection. The components of the DNA replication apparatus are described. It is shown that deoxyribonucleoside triphosphate pools increase substantially in animal cells at the time DNA synthesis is initiated due to the enhanced activities of enzymes functioning in nucleotide synthesis. Especially striking is the increase of thymidine kinase activity, indicating that this enzyme may be a useful marker of the shift from the quiescent to the replicative state. The thymidine kinase isozymes of vertebrate cells have been characterized. Thymidine kinase F, which is found principally in the cytosol, is the isozyme that increases when G1 (Go) phase cells are stimulated or infected with oncogenic viruses. Chick cytosol thymidine kinase F can also be reactivated by introducing differentiated chick erythrocyte nuclei into the cytoplasm of enzyme-deficient LM (TK-) mouse cells. Furthermore, herpesviruses code for distinctive, virus-specific thymidine kinase isozymes, so that another way to transform thymidine kinase-deficient LM TK-) cells to kinase-positive cells is by infecting them with UV-irradiated herpes simplex viruses. The experiments on the activation of DNA synthesis and thymidine kinase F activity have been discussed in the context of the proliferative activity in vivo and the immortalization in culture of neoplastic cells. These experiments suggest that genes determining cell cycle proteins are readily accessible to transcription and translation in essentially all nucleated cells. The tendency of transformed cells to become multinucleated after cytochaliasin B treatment also suggests that one important difference between malignant cells and most normal cells may be the ability of malignant cells to 'stockpile' the proteins (and/or their messenger RNAs) of the DNA replicative apparatus and to maintain the 'stockpiles' in progeny cells.

Relationship between replication of simian virus 40 DNA and specific events of the host cell cycle

The relationship between replication of simian virus 40 (SV40) DNA and the various periods of the host-cell cycle was investigated in synchronized CV(1) cells. Cells synchronized through a double excess thymidine procedure were infected with SV40 at the beginning or the middle of S, or in G(2). The first viral progeny DNA molecules were in all instances detected approximately 20 h after release from the thymidine block, independent of the time of infection. The length of the early, prereplicative phase of the virus growth cycle therefore depended upon the period of the cell cycle at which the cells were infected. Infection with SV40 was also performed on cells obtained in early G(1) through selective detachment of cells in metaphase. As long as the cells were in G(1) at the time of infection, the first viral progeny DNA molecules were detected during the S period immediately following, whereas if infection took place once the cells had entered S, no progeny DNA molecule could be detected until the S period of the next cell cycle. These results suggest that the infected cell has to pass through a critical stage situated in late G(1) or early S before SV40 DNA replication can eventually be initiated.

"Early" virus-specific RNA may contain information necessary for chromosome replication and mitosis induced by Simian Virus 40

Simian Virus 40 (SV40) induces in "contact-inhibited" tissue culture cells of mouse kidney an abortive infection that leads to the appearance of intra-nuclear SV40-specific tumor (T-) antigen, followed by replication of the mouse-cell chromatin and mitosis, while no viral progeny DNA or capsid protein is produced. Synthesis of "early" SV40-specific RNA ("19S RNA") begins a few hours before the appearance of T-antigen and appears to be switched off after the onset of chromatin replication. As the most simple working hypothesis that can account for the experimental results available, we assume that early SV40 RNA contains information necessary for production of T-antigen and that this antigen (or an unknown early virus-specific function that would simply parallel the appearance of T-antigen) activates or de-inhibits a cellular regulatory element that governs chromosome replication and mitosis. The experimental results agree with the idea that SV40 acts primarily as a mitogen.

Nonproductive infection and induction of cellular deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis by bovine adenovirus type 3 in a contact-inhibited mouse cell line

Bovine adenovirus type 3 (BAV-3), which has been reported to produce tumors in newborn hamsters, induced cellular deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) synthesis in a contact-inhibited mouse kidney cell line (C3H2K). In this system, the virus did not multiply, whereas virus-specific tumor antigen (T antigen) was detected in nearly all cells. Replication of viral DNA could not be detected by DNA-DNA hybridization on membrane filters. The cellular DNA synthesis induced by BAV-3 did occur in the absence of added serum. Extent of induction of cellular DNA synthesis was closely correlated with the multiplicity of infection. Cells activated to synthesize DNA in the serum-free medium by the virus infection progressed to cell division without noticeable cell killing.

Temperature-sensitive mutants of simian virus 40: infection of permissive cells

Ten temperature-sensitive mutants of simian virus 40 have been isolated and characterized in permissive cells. The mutants could be divided into three functional groups and two complementation groups. Seven mutants produced T antigen, infectious viral deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), and structural viral antigen but predominantly the empty shell type of viral particles. Two mutants produced T antigen and infectious viral DNA, but, although viral structural protein(s) could be detected immunologically, no V antigen or viral particles were found. These two functional groups of mutants did not complement each other. A single mutant was defective in the synthesis of viral DNA, viral structural antigens, and viral particles. T antigen could be detected in infected cells by fluorescent antibody but was reduced by complement fixation assay. This mutant stimulated cell DNA synthesis at the restrictive temperature and complemented the other two functional groups of mutants.

Infection and transformation of mouse peritoneal macrophages by simian virus 40

The stimulation of DNA synthesis in mouse (C57BL) macrophages explanted in vitro was demonstrated after treatment with conditioned medium or infection with SV40. In the latter case, induction of SV40 T antigen was detected before TdR-(3)H incorporation. Even though all macrophages were infected (T antigen-positive), they exhibited considerable pleomorphism, accompanied by functional differences. Permanent lines of SV40-transformed macrophages were eventually established, and one clone was isolated which replicates indefinitely and has many properties of primary macrophages: high acid phosphatase and phagocytic activity, lysozyme production, and specific antigenic determinants. These cells differ from normal macrophages in that they contain the SV40 genome, can be trypsinized, and do not require conditioned medium for continued replication.

Analysis of the events leading to SV40-induced chromosome replication and mitosis in primary mouse kidney cell cultures

Abortive infection with simian virus 40 in confluent, "contact-inhibited", mouse kidney cell cultures was studied. The sequential events, in individual cells, are tentatively represented by the simplified scheme: (a) transcription of early virus-specific (messenger) RNA; (b) appearance of T-antigen; (c) [psychrosensitive event(s)]; (d) chromosome replication; (e) normal or abnormal mitosis. No evidence for the replication of viral progeny DNA was obtained. The sequence of the events (a)-(d) is analogous to that observed in contact-inhibited mouse kidney tissue culture cells during lytic infection with polyoma virus.

Behavior of tissue culture cells infected with polyoma virus

Infection of tissue culture cells with the oncogenic polyoma virus, or its temperature-sensitive mutant Ts-a, causes several changes other than the previously known induction of cellular DNA synthesis. Cellular movement, survival, and mitotic rate are enhanced in low-serum medium, and morphology is changed; the cellular growth parameters, wound serum requirement, and topoinhibition are markedly decreased. The changes are similar to those that occur in cell transformation and are produced by viral functions known to be expressed in transformed cells. Clues as to the possible mechanisms of all these changes are analyzed and a possible mechanism is discussed.

Transformation of mouse macrophages by simian virus 40

Studies were undertaken to prove that simian virus 40 (SV40) can transform the mouse macrophage, a cell type naturally restricted from deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) replication. Balb/C macrophages infected with SV40 demonstrated T-antigen production and induced DNA synthesis simultaneously. In the absence of apparent division, these cells remained T antigen-positive for at least 45 days. SV40 could be rescued from nondividing, unaltered macrophages during the T antigen-producing period. Proliferating transformants appeared at an average of 66 days post-SV40 infection. Established cell lines were T antigen-positive and were negative for infectious virus, but yielded SV40 after fusion with African green monkey kidney cells. Their identity as transformed macrophages was substantiated by evaluation of cellular morphology, phagocytosis, acid phosphatase, beta(1c) synthesis, and aminoacridine incorporation.

Temperature-sensitive simian virus 40 mutant defective in a late function

A temperature-sensitive simian virus 40 (SV40) mutant, tsTNG-1, has been isolated from nitrosoguanidine-treated and SV40-infected African green monkey kidney (CV-1) cultures. Replication of virus at the nonpermissive temperature (38.7 C) was 3,000-fold less than at the permissive temperature (33.5 C). Plaque formation by SV40tsTNG-1 deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) on CV-1 monolayers occurred normally at 33.5 C but was grossly inhibited at 38.7 C. The time at which virus replication was blocked at 38.7 C was determined by temperature-shift experiments. In shift-up experiments, cultures infected for various times at 33.5 C were shifted to 38.7 C. In shift-down experiments, cultures infected for various times at 38.7 C were shifted to 33.5 C. All cultures were harvested at 96 hr postinfection (PI). No virus growth occurred when the shift-up occurred before 40 hr PI. Maximum virus yields were obtained at 96 hr PI when the shift-down occurred at 66 hr, but only about 15% of the maximum yield was obtained when the shift-down occurred at 76 hr PI. These results indicate that SV40tsTNG-1 contains a conditional lethal mutation in a late viral gene function. Mutant SV40tsTNG-1 synthesized T antigen, viral capsid antigens, and viral DNA, and induced thymidine kinase activity at either 33.5 or 38.7 C. The properties of the SV40 DNA synthesized in mutant-infected CV-1 cells at 33.5 or 38.7 C were very similar to those of SV40 DNA made in parental virus-infected cells, as determined by nitrocellulose column chromatography, cesium-chloride-ethidium bromide equilibrium centrifugation, and by velocity centrifugation in neutral sucrose gradients. Mutant SV40tsTNG-1 enhanced cellular DNA synthesis in primary cultures of mouse kidney cells at 33.5 and 38.7 C and also transformed mouse kidney cultures at 36.5 C. SV40tsTNG-1 was recovered from clonal lines of transformed cells after fusion with susceptible CV-1 cells and incubation of heterokaryons at 33.5 C, but not at 38.7 C.

Identification of the simian virus 40 which replicates when simian virus 40-transformed human cells are fused with simian virus 40-transformed mouse cells or superinfected with simian virus 40 deoxyribonucleic acid

Simian virus 40 (SV40) was rescued from heterokaryons of transformed mouse and transformed human cells. To determine whether the rescued SV40 was progeny of the SV40 genome resident in the transformed mouse cells, the transformed human cells, or both, rescue experiments were performed with mouse lines transformed by plaque morphology mutants of SV40. The transformed mouse lines that were used yielded fuzzy, small-clear, or large-clear plaques after fusion with CV-1 (African green monkey kidney) cells. The transformed human lines that were used did not release SV40 spontaneously or after fusion with CV-1 cells. From each mouse-human fusion mixture, only the SV40 resident in the transformed mouse cells was recovered. Fusion mixtures of CV-1 and transformed mouse cells yielded much more SV40 than those from transformed human and transformed mouse cells. The rate of SV40 formation was also greater from monkey-mouse than from human-mouse heterokaryons. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) from SV40 strains which form fuzzy, largeclear, or small-clear plaques on CV-1 cells was also used to infect monkey (CV-1 and Vero), normal human, and transformed human cell lines. The rate of virion formation and the final SV40 yields were much higher from monkey than from normal or transformed human cells. Only virus with the plaque type of the infecting DNA was found in extracts from the infected cells. Two uncloned sublines of transformed human cells [W18 Va2(P363) and WI38 Va13A] released SV40 spontaneously. Virus yields were not appreciably enhanced by fusion with CV-1 cells. However, clonal lines of W18 Va2(P363) did not release SV40 spontaneously or after fusion with CV-1 cells. In contrast, several clonal lines of WI38 Va13A cells did continue to shed SV40 spontaneously.

Deoxyribonucleic acid replication in simian virus 40-infected cells. 3. Comparison of simian virus 40 lytic infection in three different monkey kidney cell lines

A comparative study of simian virus 40 (SV40) lytic infection in three different monkey cell lines is described. The results demonstrate that viral deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) synthesis and infectious virus production begin some 10 to 20 hr earlier in CV-1 cells and primary African green monkey kidney (AGMK) cells than in BSC-1 cells. Induction of cellular DNA synthesis by SV40 was observed in CV-1 and AGMK cells but not with BSC-1 cells. Excision of large molecular weight cellular DNA to smaller fragments was easily detectable late in infection of AGMK cells. Little or no excision was observed at comparable times after infection of CV-1 and BSC-1 cells. The different kinds of responses of these three monkey cell lines during SV40 lytic infection suggest the involvement of cellular functions in the virus-directed induction of cellular DNA synthesis and the excision of this DNA from the genome.

Initial site of synthesis of virus during rescue of simian virus 40 from heterokaryons of simian virus 40-transformed and susceptible cells

Simian virus 40 (SV40) can be rescued from certain SV40-transformed hamster cells by fusion with susceptible African green monkey kidney (CV-1) cells, in the presence of ultraviolet-irradiated Sendai virus. We have determined the sites in which SV40 is produced during rescue in these heterokaryons. To determine the sequence, nuclei were isolated from fused cells at various times after fusion, separated on sucrose-density gradients, and assayed for infectious center formation and virus content on CV-1 monolayers. Virus was first detected in the transformed nucleus (40 hr postfusion), and later associated with both transformed and susceptible nuclei (68 to 72 hr). Viral rescue apparently does not depend upon the transfer of SV40 deoxyribonucleic acid to a susceptible CV-1 nucleus, since the transformed nucleus is the primary site of virus production. The time course of certain cytological events in the rescue process and in productive infection was found to be similar.

Biochemical consequences of type 2 adenovirus and Simian virus 40 double infections of African green monkey kidney cells

African green monkey kidney (AGMK) cells were nonpermissive hosts for type 2 adenovirus although the restriction was not complete; when only 3 plaque-forming units/cell was employed as the inoculum, the viral yield was about 0.1% of the maximum virus produced when simian virus 40 (SV40) enhanced adenovirus multiplication. The viral yield of cells infected only with type 2 adenovirus increased as the multiplicity of infection was increased. Type 2 adenovirus could infect almost all AGMK cells in culture; adenovirus-specific early proteins and DNA were synthesized in most cells, but small amounts of late proteins were made in relatively few cells. Even when cells were infected with both SV40 and adenovirus, only about 50% were permissive for synthesis of adenovirus capsid proteins. Approximately the same quantity of adenovirus deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was synthesized in the restricted as in the SV40-enhanced infection. However, in cells infected with SV40 and type 2 adenovirus, replication of SV40 DNA was blocked, multiplication of SV40 was accordingly inhibited, and synthesis of host DNA was not stimulated. To enhance propagation of type 2 adenovirus, synthesis of an early SV40 protein was essential; 50 mug of cycloheximide per ml prevented the SV40-induced enhancement of adenovirus multiplication, whereas 5 x 10(-6)m 5-fluoro-2-deoxyuridine did not abrogate the enhancing phenomenon.

Isolation of double lysogens from 3T3 cells transformed by plaque morphology mutants of SV40

Simian virus 40 (SV40) rescued from 3T3 lines transformed independently by fuzzy plaque strain, SV40 (mKS-U4), and small-clear plaque strain, SV40 (mKS-U88), resembled the virus used to initiate the transformation. When a mixture of the two viruses was used for transformation, both plaque types could be rescued. Two clonal lines, after fusion with CV-1 cells, yielded both plaque types of infectious centers, and a third clonal line, 3T3(4-88)G-1, yielded fuzzy and small-clear plaque types of infectious centers plus large-clear infectious centers resembling "wild-type" SV40 clone 307L. Two secondary and 14 tertiary clones of 3T3(4-88)G-1 were isolated, all of which yielded fuzzy plaque type and clear infectious centers after fusion with CV-1 cells. When these infectious centers were picked and replated on CV-1 cells, the fuzzy and small-clear plaque types of SV40, as well as a large-clear plaque type resembling parental SV40, were isolated.

Early in-vitro SV40-mediated morphologic transformation of primary hamster cells. Its correlation with the development of the oncogenic state

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Properties of simian virus 40 rescued from cell lines transformed by ultraviolet-irradiated simian virus 40

Simian virus 40 (SV40) strains have been rescued from various clonal lines of mouse kidney cells that had been transformed by ultraviolet (UV)-irradiated SV40. To learn whether some of the rescued SV40 strains were mutants, monkey kidney (CV-1) cells were infected with the rescued virus strains at 37 C and at 41 C. The SV40 strains studied included strains rescued from transformed cell lines classified as "good," "average," "poor," and "rare" yielders on the basis of total virus yield, frequency of induction, and incidence of successful rescue trials. Four small plaque mutants isolated from "poor" yielder lines and fuzzy and small plaque strains isolated from an "average" and a "good" yielder line, respectively, were among the SV40 strains tested. Virus strains rescued from all classes of transformed cells were capable of inducing the transplantation antigen, and they induced the intranuclear SV40-T-antigen, thymidine kinase, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) polymerase, and cellular DNA synthesis at 37 C and at 41 C. With the exception of four small plaque strains rescued from "poor" yielders, the rescued SV40 strains replicated their DNA and formed infectious virus with kinetics similar to parental SV40 at either 37 or 41 C. The four exceptional strains did replicate at 37 C, but replication was very poor at 41 C. Thus, only a few of the rescued virus strains exhibited defective SV40 functions in CV-1 cells. All of the virus strains rescued from the "rare" yielder lines were similar to parental SV40. Several hypotheses consistent with the properties of the rescued virus strains are discussed, which may account for the significant variations in virus yield and frequency of induction of the transformed cell lines.

Cellular deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis and loss of contact inhibition in irradiated and contact-inhibited cell cultures infected with fibroma virus

Cultural changes that follow infection of rabbit kidney cells with fibroma virus were studied. Characteristic alterations of cell morphology and development of multilayered piles and cords of cells were found to occur in infected cultures in which cell division was blocked by gamma radiation or by cell crowding and serum deprivation, thus indicating no dependence upon cell division. Fibroma virus infection did not remove blocks to cell division, but it did exert distinct effects upon nuclear deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis in cells blocked by radiation or cell crowding. Use of tritium-labeled thymidine and autoradiography demonstrated that after infection initial inhibition of nuclear incorporation was followed by sharply increased nuclear labeling at a time that coincided with beginning alterations of cell morphology and development of cell piling.

Rescue of Simian Virus 40 from Cell Lines Transformed at High and at Low Input Multiplicities by Unirradiated or Ultraviolet-irradiated Virus

The relation between simian virus 40 (SV40) input multiplicity during transformation of primary mouse kidney cultures and the subsequent rescue of SV40 from clonal lines of transformed cells has been studied. Primary mouse kidney cultures were transformed with unirradiated SV40 at input multiplicities varying from 0.06 to 200 plaque-forming units (PFU) /cell or with SV40 irradiated with ultraviolet (UV) light to a survival of 0.04 to 0.01. All of the transformed lines contained the intranuclear SV40 T antigen, but cell-free extracts prepared from the transformed cell lines failed to yield infectious virus when assayed on monkey kidney cell (CV-1) monolayers. After fusion with susceptible CV-1 cells induced by UV-inactivated Sendai, all of the lines transformed by unirradiated virus yielded infectious SV40. The frequency of induction and the incidence of successful trials did not depend on the multiplicity of infection. “Good” yielders were obtained from mouse kidney cells transformed at the low input multiplicity of 0.06 PFU /cell. In contrast, only 4 of 12 clonal lines transformed at moderately low input multiplicity, and none of the lines transformed at very low input multiplicity with UV-irradiated virus yielded infectious SV40. The four positive lines have been classified as “poor” or “rare” yielders.