Incomplete transformation of rat cells by a deletion mutant of adenovirus type 5

The adenovirus E4orf6 protein contributes to malignant transformation by antagonizing E1A-induced accumulation of the tumor suppressor protein p53

The adenovirus type 5 (Ad5) E4orf6 protein promotes focus formation of primary baby rat kidney (BRK) cells in cooperation with Ad5 E1 proteins. This activity is most likely related to the ability of the E4orf6 protein to bind to p53 and modulate its tumor suppressor functions. In this study we report that transformed BRK cells that stably express E4orf6 in addition to E1A and E1B (ABS cells) displayed multiple additional properties commonly associated with a high grade of oncogenic transformation compared to cells expressing only E1A and E1B (AB cells). These properties included morphological alterations, markedly enhanced growth rates and growth to much higher saturation densities. Following injection into nude mice ABS-derived tumors exhibited accelerated growth and, based on histopathological criteria, proofed to be much more malignant compared to tumors generated by AB cells. Interestingly, these highly transformed properties of ABS cells correlated with a dramatic reduction of p53 steady-state levels which inversely correlated with E4orf6 expression. From these results we conclude that expression of the Ad5 E4orf6 protein (i) confers additional transformed in vitro properties to primary rat cells expressing the Ad5 E1 proteins, and (ii) increases the tumorigenic and malignant potential of these cells in vivo. Our data suggest that the Ad5 E4orf6 protein enhances the intrinsic ability of E1-transformed rat cells to grow in a neoplastic state by completely inactivating p53 tumor suppressor function in combination with the E1A and E1B proteins.

Suppression of adenovirus type 5 E1A-mediated transformation and expression of the transformed phenotype by caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE)

Viral transformation and DNA-transfection assays were employed to investigate the differential toxic effect of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), an extract of the honeybee hive product propolis, on adenovirus type 5 (Ad5)-transformed cloned rat embryo fibroblast (CREF) cells. CAPE inhibited, in a dose-dependent manner, both de novo and carcinogen-enhanced transformation of CREF cells by H5hr1, the cold-sensitive (cs) host-range mutant of Ad5. CAPE had a selective inhibitory effect on Ad5-induced transformation when a wild-type (wt) Ad5 E1A gene or a cs Ad5 E1A gene (at 37 degrees C, but not at 32 degrees C) was cotransfected into CREF cells with a dominant-acting bacterial hygromycin-resistance gene. A requirement for the expression of Ad5 E1A-encoded mRNAs and transforming proteins and sensitivity to CAPE was demonstrated using CREF cells stably transformed by a cs Ad5 E1A gene and an Ad5 E1A gene under the transcriptional control of a mouse mammary tumor virus promoter. To distinguish between the effects of the two Ad5 E1A-encoded proteins of 289 amino acids (aa) and 243 aa, CREF cells were stably transformed with cDNAs encoding either the 13S or the 12S E1A mRNA. CREF cells expressing the 13S E1A-encoded 289-aa protein were more sensitive to the growth-suppressing effect of CAPE than cells producing only the 12S E1A-encoded 243-aa protein. However, the growth-suppressing and toxic effects of CAPE were greatest in cells expressing both E1A-encoded transforming proteins. Analysis of the effect of CAPE on E1A and beta-actin gene expression in wt and cs E1A and H5hr1-transformed CREF cells indicated that low levels of CAPE, which were growth suppressive, did not selectively suppress E1A expression. These results demonstrated that cellular changes induced in CREF cells by the 13S E1A-encoded 289-aa protein of Ad5, when expressed alone or in combination with the 12S E1A-encoded 243-aa protein, rendered transformed cells sensitive to the growth-suppressing and toxic effects of CAPE.

Role of adenovirus E1B proteins in transformation: altered organization of intermediate filaments in transformed cells that express the 19-kilodalton protein

Cooperation of the nuclear oncogene E1A with the E1B oncogene is required for transformation of primary cells. Expression vectors were constructed to produce the 19-kilodalton (19K) and 55K E1B proteins under the direction of heterologous promoters in order to investigate the role of individual E1B proteins in transformation. Coexpression of E1A and either the 19K or 55K E1B gene products was sufficient for the formation of transformed foci in primary rat cells at half the frequency of an intact E1B gene, suggesting that the 19K and 55K proteins function via independent pathways in transformation. Furthermore, the effects of Ha-ras and the E1B 19K gene product were additive when cotransfected with E1A, suggesting that the 19K protein functions in transformation by a mechanism independent from that of ras as well. Although expression of E1A and either E1B protein was sufficient for the subsequent growth of cells in long-term culture, the 19K protein was required to support growth in semisolid media. As the 19K protein has been shown to associate with and disrupt intermediate filaments (IFs) when transiently expressed with plasmid vectors (E. White and R. Cipriani, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 86:9886-9890, 1989), the organization of IFs in transformed cells was investigated. Primary rat cells transformed by plasmids encoding E1A plus the E1B 19K protein showed gross perturbations of IFs, whereas cell lines transformed by plasmids encoding E1A plus the E1B 55K protein or E1A plus Ha-ras did not. These results suggest that an intact IF cytoskeleton may inhibit anchorage-independent growth and that the E1B 19K protein can overcome this inhibition by disrupting the IF cytoskeleton.

Role of adenovirus E1B proteins in transformation: altered organization of intermediate filaments in transformed cells that express the 19-kilodalton protein

Cooperation of the nuclear oncogene E1A with the E1B oncogene is required for transformation of primary cells. Expression vectors were constructed to produce the 19-kilodalton (19K) and 55K E1B proteins under the direction of heterologous promoters in order to investigate the role of individual E1B proteins in transformation. Coexpression of E1A and either the 19K or 55K E1B gene products was sufficient for the formation of transformed foci in primary rat cells at half the frequency of an intact E1B gene, suggesting that the 19K and 55K proteins function via independent pathways in transformation. Furthermore, the effects of Ha-ras and the E1B 19K gene product were additive when cotransfected with E1A, suggesting that the 19K protein functions in transformation by a mechanism independent from that of ras as well. Although expression of E1A and either E1B protein was sufficient for the subsequent growth of cells in long-term culture, the 19K protein was required to support growth in semisolid media. As the 19K protein has been shown to associate with and disrupt intermediate filaments (IFs) when transiently expressed with plasmid vectors (E. White and R. Cipriani, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 86:9886-9890, 1989), the organization of IFs in transformed cells was investigated. Primary rat cells transformed by plasmids encoding E1A plus the E1B 19K protein showed gross perturbations of IFs, whereas cell lines transformed by plasmids encoding E1A plus the E1B 55K protein or E1A plus Ha-ras did not. These results suggest that an intact IF cytoskeleton may inhibit anchorage-independent growth and that the E1B 19K protein can overcome this inhibition by disrupting the IF cytoskeleton.

The primary structure of major viral RNA in a rat cell line transfected with type 47 human papillomavirus DNA and the transforming activity of its cDNA and E6 gene

A transformed cell line (RC335) showing higher saturation cell density was obtained from 3Y1 cells (a fibroblastic cell line of rat) transfected with DNA of human papillomavirus type 47 (HPV-47), an epidermodysplasia verruciformis-associated virus, which our laboratory reported previously. The cell line was found to produce a major and several minor species of viral RNAs. The primary structure of the major viral RNA in RC335 was extensively studied and found to consist of two exons and contain open reading frames (ORFs) E6, E7, and a fused ORF, E1/E4. The major RNA was indicated to play an important role in the transformation of RC335 by an experiment with the recombinant retrovirus designed to produce the RNA containing these ORFs, i.e., the recombinant virus induced transformation similar to that in RC335 upon infection of 3Y1 cells. Furthermore the experiments with recombinant viruses carrying a nonsense mutation or large deletion in the above ORF(s) indicated that E6 was necessary and sufficient for the transformation.

A cell cycle G0-ts mutant, tsJT60, becomes lethal at the nonpermissive temperature after transformation with adenovirus 12 E1B 19K mutant

tsJT60, a temperature-sensitive (ts) cell-cycle mutant of Fischer rats, is viable at both the permissive (34 degrees C) and nonpermissive (40 degrees C) temperatures. The cells grow normally in exponential growth phase at both temperatures, but when stimulated with serum from G0 phase they enter S phase at 34 degrees C but not at 40 degrees C. tsJT60 cells transformed with human adenovirus (Ad) 12 dl205, which lacks the E1B 19-kDa polypeptide gene, were lethal at 40 degrees C, whereas tsJT60 cells transformed with Ad12 wt, dl207, which lacks E1B 58-kDa protein gene, or in206B, which produces 19- to 58- kDa fused protein, were viable. Degradation of cell DNA occurred in dl205-transformed tsJT60 cultured at both 34 degrees C and 40 degrees C. Neither cytocidal phenotype nor degradation of DNA occurred in 3Y1 cells (a parental line of tsJT60) transformed with dl205. These results suggest that the lethal phenotype and degradation of DNA are related to the ts mutation in tsJT60 and also to the lack of Ad12 E1B 19kDa polypeptide.

Induction of cellular DNA synthesis in G0-specific ts mutant, tsJT60, following infection with SV40 and adenoviruses

tsJT60 cells, a temperature-sensitive G0 mutant of a Fischer rat cell line, grew normally in an exponential growth phase at both permissive (34 degrees C) and nonpermissive (39.5 degrees C) temperatures, but when stimulated with fetal bovine serum in the growth-arrested state (G0 phase) they entered S phase at 34 degrees C but not at 39.5 degrees C. Infection of G0-arrested tsJT60 cells with SV40, adenovirus (Ad) 5 wild type and its E1B mutant dl313, and Ad12 wild type and its E1B mutants in205B, in205C, dl205, and in206B induced DNA synthesis at both temperatures. The DNA synthesized after virus infection was shown to be cellular by Hirt separation of DNA from SV40-infected cells and by CsCl equilibrium density gradient centrifugation of DNA from Ad5-infected cells.

tsJT60, a cell cycle G0-ts mutant, becomes lethal at non-permissive temperature by transformation with adenovirus 5 when the expression of E1B gene is lacking

tsJT60, a temperature-sensitive (ts) mutant cell line of Fischer rat, is viable at both permissive (34 degrees C) and non-permissive (39.5 degrees C) temperatures. The cells grow normally in exponential growth phase at both temperatures, but when stimulated with fetal bovine serum (FBS) from G0 phase they re-enter S phase at 34 degrees C but not at 39.5 degrees. When tsJT60 cells were transformed with adenovirus (Ad) 5 wild type, they grew well at both temperatures, expressed E1A and E1B genes, and formed colonies in soft agar. When tsJT60 cells were transformed with Ad5 dl313, that lacks E1B gene, the transformed cells grew well at 34 degrees C but failed to form colony in soft agar. They died very soon at 39.5 degrees C. 3Y1 cells (a parental line of tsJT60) transformed with dl313 grew well at both temperatures, although neither expressed E1B gene nor formed colonies in soft agar. The phenotype of being lethal at 39.5 degrees C of dl313-transformed tsJT60 cells was complemented by cell fusion with 3Y1BUr cells (5-BrdU-resistant 3Y1), but not with tsJT60TGr cells (6-thioguanine resistant tsJT60). These results indicate that the lethal phenotype is related to the ts mutation of tsJT60 cells and also to the deletion of E1B gene of Ad5.

Mutations in the E1a gene of type 5 adenovirus result in oncogenic transformation of Fischer rat embryo cells

Transformation of a specific clone of Fischer rat embryo (CREF) cells with wild-type 5 adenovirus (Ad5) or the E1a plus E1b transforming gene regions of Ad5 results in epithelioid transformants that grow efficiently in agar but that do not induce tumors when inoculated into nude mice or syngeneic Fischer rats. In contrast, CREF cells transformed by a host-range Ad5 mutant, H5hrl, which contains a single base-pair deletion of nucleotide 1055 in E1a resulting in a 28-kd protein (calculated) in place of the wild-type 51-kd acidic protein, display a cold-sensitive transformation phenotype and an incomplete fibroblastic morphology but surprisingly do induce tumors in nude mice and syngeneic rats. Tumors develop in both types of animals following injection of CREF cells transformed by other cold-sensitive Ad5 E1a mutants (H5dl101 and H5in106), which contain alterations in their 13S mRNA and consequently truncated 289AA proteins. CREF cells transformed with only the E1a gene (0-4.5 m.u.) from H5hrl or H5dl101 also produce tumors in these animals. To directly determine the role of the 13S E1a encoded 289AA protein and the 12S E1a encoded 243AA protein in initiating an oncogenic phenotype in adenovirus-transformed CREF cells, we generated transformed cell lines following infection with the Ad2 mutant pm975, which synthesizes the 289AA E1a protein but not the 243AA protein, and the Ad5 mutant H5dl520 and the Ad2 mutant H2dl1500, which do not produce the 289AA E1a protein but synthesize the normal 243AA E1a protein. All three types of mutant adenovirus-transformed CREF cells induced tumors in nude mice and syngeneic rats. Tumor formation by these mutant adenovirus-transformed CREF cells was not associated with changes in the arrangement of integrated adenovirus DNA or in the expression of adenovirus early genes. These results indicate, therefore, that oncogenic transformation of CREF cells can occur in the presence of a wild-type 13S E1a protein or a wild-type 12S E1a protein when either protein is present alone, but does not occur when both wild-type E1a proteins are present.

Induction of cellular DNA synthesis by purified adenovirus E1A proteins

The purified Escherichia coli-expressed products of the human subgroup-C adenovirus E1A 13 S and 12 S mRNAs are shown to induce cellular DNA synthesis when introduced by microinjection into quiescent, G0-arrested mammalian cells from immortalized cell lines. The E1A proteins stimulated cellular DNA synthesis in mouse Swiss 3T3 cells, when microinjected either individually or in combination. A truncated E1A protein, in which 169 carboxyl terminal residues of the 289-amino acid E1A 13 S mRNA product are deleted, was unable to induce cellular DNA synthesis in these cells. Our results provide evidence that E1A proteins can function, independent of other viral functions, in the stimulation of cellular DNA synthesis in certain cell types. The present results are consistent with the E1A gene products acting to modulate the expression of the cellular genes which control cell cycle progression into S phase.

Role of the adenovirus early region 1B tumor antigens in transformation and lytic infection

We have investigated the contribution of each of the two adenovirus type 5 (Ad5) major early region 1b (E1b) proteins in cell transformation and in lytic infection. An Ad5 E1 plasmid, in which the reading frame for the 19-kDa E1b protein was abolished by a stop codon close to the initiation codon, transformed primary baby rat kidney (BRK) cells with an efficiency of about half of that of a wild type Ad5 E1 plasmid, whereas a plasmid with a mutation in the gene for the 58-kDa E1b protein transformed the same primary cells with only one-third of the wild type efficiency. Plasmids containing region E1a only or a plasmid carrying mutations in the genes for major E1b proteins all transformed primary cells with an efficiency of approximately 5% of wild type. To test the effect of the E1b mutations in virion-mediated cell transformation, the mutant E1b regions were introduced into intact viral genomes by overlap recombination and were subsequently used in a transformation assay on BRK cells. The 19 and 58-kDa mutant viruses were found to transform BRK cells with 11 and 25% of the efficiency of wild type virus, respectively. These results suggest that the 19-kDa E1b protein is essential for virus-mediated cell transformation, in agreement with results of others, but not for plasmid-mediated cell transformation. In lytic infection, the 19-kDa mutant virus was some 30-fold reduced in yield on HeLa cells, whereas the 58-kDa mutant virus was 3000-fold reduced in its ability to grow on HeLa cells at low multiplicity of infection, but showed a marked multiplicity-dependent leakiness. The 58-kDa mutant virus was not defective when its growth was assayed on human embryonic kidney (HEK) cells. This may indicate that cellular proteins are expressed in HEK cells that are functionally homologous to the 58-kDa E1b protein.

Mutations in the E1a gene of adenovirus type 5 alter the tumorigenic properties of transformed cloned rat embryo fibroblast cells

The adenovirus type 5 mutants H5hr1 and H5dl101 contain modifications in the E1a gene affecting the 13S mRNA-encoded 289-amino acid polypeptide and exhibit a cold-sensitive transformation phenotype upon infection of cloned rat embryo fibroblast (CREF) cells. Transformed cell lines expressing solely E1a or E1a and E1b gene products derived from these viruses display enhanced anchorage-independent growth at 37 degrees C versus 32 degrees C and display a cytoskeletal architecture resembling untransformed fibroblastic CREF cells. In contrast, CREF cells transformed by H5wt or the E1a and E1b region of H5wt grow with similar efficiency in agar at 37 degrees C or 32 degrees C and exhibit an epithelioid morphology that is associated with an altered cytoskeleton. Regardless of the expression or presence of other viral early regions, including E1b, E2a, and E4 genes, specific CREF cell lines expressing an altered 289-amino acid protein and a wild-type 12S mRNA-encoded 243-amino acid protein were capable of inducing tumors in nude mice and in immunocompetent syngeneic Fischer rats. In sharp contrast, cells expressing a wild-type 289-amino acid protein were unable to induce tumors in either nude mice or syngeneic rats. The ability to induce tumors did not correlate with alterations in the pattern of viral DNA integration or differential expression of the E1a and E1b genes, nor was the tumor induction a consequence of unique properties of the immortal parental CREF cell line.

The adenovirus type 12 early-region 1B 58,000-Mr gene product is required for viral DNA synthesis and for initiation of cell transformation

An E1B 58K mutant of adenovirus type 12 (Ad12), dl207, was constructed by the deletion of 852 base pairs in the E1B 58K coding region. The mutant could grow efficiently in 293E1 cells but not in HeLa, KB, or human embryo kidney (HEK) cells. Viral DNA replication of dl207 was not detected in HeLa and KB cells and was seldom detected in HEK cells. Analysis of viral DNA synthesis in vitro showed that the Ad12-DNA-protein complex replicated by using the nuclear extract from Ad12 wild-type (WT)-infected HeLa cells but not by using the nuclear extract from dl207-infected cells. In dl207-infected HeLa and KB cells, early mRNAs were detected, but late mRNAs were not detected. The mutant induced fewer transformed foci than the WT in rat 3Y1 cells. Cells transformed by dl207 could grow efficiently in fluid medium, form colonies in soft agar culture, and induce tumors in rats transplanted with the transformed cells at the same efficiency as WT-transformed cells. Tumors were induced in hamsters injected with WT virions but were not induced in hamsters injected with dl207 virions. The results indicate that the E1B 58K protein is required both for viral DNA replication in productive infection and for initiation of cell transformation, but not for maintenance of the transformed phenotype.

An insertion mutation in the adenovirus type 12 early region 1A 13S mRNA unique region

An adenovirus type 12 mutant, in203S, was constructed to contain an insertion of two amino acids in the early region 1A (E1A) 13S mRNA-coding region and in the E1A 12S mRNA intron. in203S could not grow in HeLa and KB cells. Virus DNA replication was scarcely detected at a low multiplicity of infection, but was detected at a high multiplicity of infection. The transcription of early genes other than E1A was not detected at 13 h after infection, but became detectable after longer incubation. The transcription of the E1A gene was also reduced to about one-fifth of the wild-type level. The mutant induced fewer foci of smaller sizes than the wild type in rat 3Y1 and secondary rat kidney cells. The induction of cellular DNA synthesis was reduced in rat 3Y1 cells infected with in203S as compared with that in wild type-infected cells. These results show that the E1A 13S mRNA-derived polypeptide of adenovirus type 12 is required for activation of early genes, cell transformation, and induction of cellular DNA synthesis.

Nuclear envelope localization of an adenovirus tumor antigen maintains the integrity of cellular DNA

The adenovirus early-region 1B 19,000-molecular-weight tumor antigen is required for oncogenic transformation of cells by adenovirus. We have demonstrated that this tumor antigen is located in the nuclear envelope of infected and transformed cells and that a fraction of the protein within the nuclear envelope is associated with the nuclear lamina. During cell division in the transformed cells, the nuclear envelope containing the tumor antigen dissociates at metaphase and then reforms around the separated daughter chromosomes at telophase. Adenovirus mutants carrying lesions in the gene encoding this tumor antigen cause degradation of host cell chromosomal DNA, and in these mutants, the intracellular localization of the 19,000-dalton protein is altered. These results demonstrate that components of the nuclear envelope function in the organization of chromatin in infected and transformed cells and that a virus-encoded protein plays a critical role in this process.

Nuclear envelope localization of an adenovirus tumor antigen maintains the integrity of cellular DNA

The adenovirus early-region 1B 19,000-molecular-weight tumor antigen is required for oncogenic transformation of cells by adenovirus. We have demonstrated that this tumor antigen is located in the nuclear envelope of infected and transformed cells and that a fraction of the protein within the nuclear envelope is associated with the nuclear lamina. During cell division in the transformed cells, the nuclear envelope containing the tumor antigen dissociates at metaphase and then reforms around the separated daughter chromosomes at telophase. Adenovirus mutants carrying lesions in the gene encoding this tumor antigen cause degradation of host cell chromosomal DNA, and in these mutants, the intracellular localization of the 19,000-dalton protein is altered. These results demonstrate that components of the nuclear envelope function in the organization of chromatin in infected and transformed cells and that a virus-encoded protein plays a critical role in this process.

Effect on transformation of mutations in the early region 1b-encoded 21- and 55-kilodalton proteins of adenovirus 5

It is well established that the adenovirus 5 genes responsible for the initiation and maintenance of the transformed cell reside in the early region 1a and 1b genes, but it remains unclear how the polypeptides encoded in these genes mediate their functions. To probe the function of the early region 1b-encoded 55- and 21-kilodalton (kd) polypeptides during this process, a series of viral mutants was engineered so that they contained deletions or insertions at 5.4, 5.7, 7.9, or 9.6 map units. By means of either an overlap recombination procedure involving H5dl314 (delta 3.7 to 4.6 map units) cleaved with ClaI, or a marker rescue procedure involving H5dl312 (delta 1.2 to 3.8 map units), viral mutants were isolated by their ability to produce plaques on KB cell line 18 cells, which constitutively express only viral early region 1b functions. DNA sequence analysis confirmed that the series of mutants generated differed in their abilities to express the 21- or the 55-kd polypeptides, or both. Upon infection of cloned rat embryo fibroblast cells with viruses containing mutations affecting the 55-kd protein, the transformation frequency decreased as the size of the predicted truncated polypeptide decreased. Although all of the foci generated by the 55-kd protein mutants were indistinguishable from the foci induced by wild-type virus, they displayed an inefficient ability to grow in soft agar, again in relation to the size of the truncated polypeptide. In contrast, if cloned rat embryo fibroblast cells were transfected with viral DNA, the defectiveness in transformation observed after infection with virions was not as dramatic. However, all of the viruses containing 21-kd mutations were transformation defective, regardless of the mode by which the viral nucleic acid was introduced into the cell.

Early region 1B of adenovirus 2 encodes two coterminal proteins of 495 and 155 amino acid residues

Partial sequence analysis of tryptic peptides has identified the E1B-495R (E1b-57K) (early transcription region 1B of 495 amino acid residues, with an approximate molecular weight of 57,000) protein of adenovirus 2 as encoded by the 495 amino acid open reading frame located in the adenovirus 2 DNA sequence between nucleotides 2016 and 3500. Additional proteins of 16,000 Mr and 18,000 Mr that are related to the E1B-495R protein were identified by cell-free translation of hybridization-selected mRNA. Analysis of [35S]methionine-containing amino terminal tryptic peptides by thin-layer chromatography showed that the E1B-495R, E1B-18K, and E1B-16K proteins all begin at the same initiation codon. The E1B-495R protein from 293 cells also has the same initial tryptic peptide, acetyl-methionyl-glutamyl-arginine. Sequence analysis of E1B-18K tryptic peptides indicated that this protein also has the same carboxy terminus as the E1B-495R protein and that it is derived from an mRNA that is spliced to remove sequences between nucleotides 2250 and 3269, resulting in a protein product of 155 amino acid residues. Analysis of E1B-16K tryptic peptides has not yet revealed the carboxy terminal structure of this protein. Both the E1B-495R and the E1B-155R (E1B-18K) proteins, as well as the E1B-16K protein, were precipitated from cell-free translations and from extracts of infected cells by antiserum against an amino terminal nonapeptide common to these proteins.

Characterization of a host range mutant of human adenovirus 12 defective in early region 1B

We isolated an adenovirus 12 early region 1B mutant (in206B) by ligation of the cleaved DNA-protein complex and transfection of human embryo kidney cells with the ligation products. By deduction from the DNA sequencing analysis, the two polypeptides (with molecular weights of 19,000 and 54,000) coded in the early region 1B were fused in this mutant to produce a large polypeptide. This mutant could replicate efficiently in 293 cells but not efficiently in KB or human embryo kidney cells. In KB cells, viral DNA replication could not be detected after infection with in206B. In human embryo kidney cells, viral DNA replication did occur, but the transition of viral mRNA patterns from early to late did not occur even after DNA replication, resulting in failure to produce the late polypeptides. These results indicate that the early region 1B products may be involved in both viral DNA replication and regulation of transcription.

Adenovirus type 5 early region 1b gene product is required for efficient shutoff of host protein synthesis

To determine the role adenovirus 5 early region 1b-encoded 21- and 55-kilodalton proteins play in adenovirus productive infection, mutants have been isolated which were engineered to contain small deletions or insertions at 5.8, 7.9, or 9.6 map units. By using an overlap recombination procedure involving H5dl314 (delta 3.7 to 4.6 map units) DNA cleaved at 2.6 map units with ClaI and the adenovirus 5 XhoI-C (0 to 15.5 map units) fragment containing the desired mutation, viral mutants were isolated by their ability to produce plaques on KB cell line 18, which constitutively expresses only viral early region 1b functions (Babiss et al., J. Virol. 46:454-465, 1983). DNA sequence analysis of the viral mutants isolated (H5dl118, H5dl110, H5in127, and H5dl163) indicates that all of the viruses contain mutations which affect the 55-kilodalton protein, whereas dl118 should also produce a truncated form of the 21-kilodalton protein. When analyzed for their replication characteristics in HeLa cells, all of the mutant viruses exhibited extended eclipse periods and effected yields that were reduced to 10% or less of that produced by H5sub309 (parent virus of the mutants which is phenotypically identical to wild-type adenovirus 5). When compared with characteristics of sub309, the early and late transcription and DNA replication of the mutants were similar, but synthesis of late polypeptides and late cytoplasmic mRNAs was greatly reduced. Quantitation of mutant virus-specific late mRNAs associated with polysomes revealed a threefold reduction when compared with that of sub309. Analysis of infected cell extracts further revealed that these mutants were incapable of efficiently shutting off host cell protein synthesis, suggesting that the 55-kilodalton protein plays a role in this process. These data suggest that early region 1b products may function by interacting with additional viral or host cell macromolecules to modulate host cell shutoff or that some late viral mRNA or polypeptide may potentiate this reaction.

Transformation by human adenoviruses

When, approximately 10 years ago, it was shown that the functions essential for cell transformation were localized in a small region of the adenovirus genome, a DNA segment which at that time was thought to be capable of encoding two or three average-sized proteins at most, it seemed reasonable to hope that an understanding of the mechanisms by which adenoviruses transform cells might be quickly achieved. While such optimism might be forgiven, it was quite clearly naive in the extreme. As a consequence of mRNA splicing and the use of overlapping reading frames the number of proteins encoded within E1 is 2-3-times greater than would have been predicted a decade ago, and post-translational modifications may add another dimension of complexity. In fact it has taken nearly all of the past decade just to identify the proteins encoded in E1 and to characterize them in the most rudimentary way. However, we have now entered a period in which new information is accumulating at an extremely rapid rate as a result of several major technical and fundamental advances. Chief among these are the use of recombinant DNA techniques, particularly site-directed mutagenesis, which combined with methods for introducing mutations made in cloned sequences back into infectious virus, clearly represents a powerful approach to studying the functions of transforming proteins. In addition, the ability to express transforming proteins in bacteria and to produce large amounts of highly purified proteins which previously were only just detectable in infected and transformed cells is a major breakthrough. Advances in immunological techniques, particularly the development of monoclonal antibodies and antisera against synthetic peptides, have enormously simplified the task of detecting and characterizing E1 proteins. Finally, recent results suggesting that adenovirus transforming proteins may be functionally and structurally similar to other oncogenes brings a new perspective to the study of oncogenic transformation. Have all the proteins involved in transformation by adenoviruses been identified? It seems probable that all those virally coded proteins which play a major role are now known but of course minor players in the cast could still be waiting in the wings. We have pointed out that viral functions encoded outside region E1 may have some importance at least in initiation of transformation by virions and have speculated on the possibility that one or more of these may be involved in the integration of viral DNA into the host cell chromosome.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Genetic analysis of control of proliferation in fibroblastic cells in culture. I. Isolation and characterization of mutants temperature-sensitive for proliferation or survival of untransformed diploid rat cell line 3Y1

Mutants temperature sensitive for proliferation or survival were isolated from an untransformed diploid clone of fibroblastic rat cells (3Y1), according to an isolation protocol that selected for mutants defective at 38.5 degrees C (selection temperature) in undergoing the transition from quiescent to proliferating state while maintaining viability at 38.5 degrees C. Of the 108 temperature-sensitive clones isolated, 32 were examined for survival in sparse cultures at 39.8 degrees C (nonpermissive temperature) and classified into four classes. Results of temperature shift-up experiments suggest that functions defective in 11 of the 32 mutants are necessary not only for changing from the quiescent to proliferating state but also for maintenance of the proliferating state. Of the 32 mutants, 17 were assigned to eight complementation groups. Results of the physiological characterization of the representative mutants of each of the eight complementation groups are presented.

Isolation of transformation-defective, replication-nondefective early region 1B mutants of adenovirus 12

We isolated three adenovirus 12 early region 1B mutants (in205B, in205C, and dl205) by ligation of the cleaved DNA-protein complex and transfection of human embryo kidney cells with the ligation products. These mutants could replicate efficiently in human embryo kidney or KB cells but showed markedly reduced transforming capacities both in vitro and in vivo. In cells infected with the mutants, the early region 1B gene was transcribed efficiently. In cells infected with in205B, the products corresponding to the early region 1B-coded 19,000-molecular-weight polypeptide was detected by in vitro translation but not immunoprecipitated extract of labeled cells. In cells infected with in205C or dl205, the products corresponding to the same polypeptide were not detected by either in vitro translation or immunoprecipitation of labeled cell extracts. The results suggest that the 19,000-molecular-weight polypeptide encoded by early region 1B is required for cell transformation but not for viral propagation.

The 19-kDal protein encoded by early region 1b of adenovirus type 12 is synthesized efficiently in Escherichia coli only as a fused protein

We have constructed recombinant plasmids that direct the synthesis of the Mr 19 000 protein encoded by the adenovirus type 12 (Ad12) E1b region as either a native protein or a protein fused to the amino-terminal portion of the elongation factor EF-TuB in Escherichia coli cells. Using these recombinants, we could synthesize a large amount of the fused protein, while only a small amount of the native Mr 19 000 protein was produced. The failure to synthesize the native Mr 19 000 protein in E. coli cells was ascribed to inefficient translation.

mRNA species and proteins of adenovirus type 12 transforming regions: identification of proteins translated from multiple coding stretches in 2.2 kb region 1B mRNA in vitro and in vivo

Analysis of cytoplasmic RNA in Ad12-infected and -transformed cells showed that more than 20 mRNA species are transcribed from regions 1A and 1B. These mRNA species could be classified into four classes according to the extent to which they were expressed in infected and transformed cells under various conditions. The proteins synthesized from the major species of each of these mRNAs were identified by in vitro translation. In region 1A, the 40K (and 38K) proteins were synthesized from three mRNA species that differed from one another in their 5' ends, and in region 1B three proteins with molecular weights of 19,000 (19K), 50K, and 17K were synthesized from a single species of 2.2 kb mRNA. Only the 19K protein was immunoprecipitated by anti-T serum (G serum) from rats bearing GY1 cell tumors, [GY1 cells are rat cells transformed by the Ad12 HindIII-G fragment (0-6.8 map units).] The 19K protein was also detected by immunoprecipitation in extracts from both transformed and infected cells. The 17K protein was immunoprecipitated by anti-T serum (C serum) derived from rats bearing CY1 cell tumors, but was not by G serum. [CY1 cells are rat cells transformed by the Ad12 EcoRI-C fragment (0-16.5 map units).] The 17K protein was also translated in vitro from the 0.5 kb region 1B mRNA. These results suggest that the 19K and 17K proteins correspond to Ad12 T antigen f and polypeptide IX, respectively, and that these two proteins are translated in vivo from different coding regions in 2.2 kb mRNA in CY1 cells.

Expression of adenovirus type 12 early region 1 in KB cells transformed by recombinants containing the gene

The adenovirus type 12 (Ad12) early region 1 (E1) gene was introduced into KB cells by using a dominant selection vector, pSV2-gpt, and over 80 Gpt+ KB cell clones were established. Three types of recombinant DNAs (gAE1A, gARC, and gABA) were constructed. They contained the AccI-H, EcoRI-C, and BamHI-A fragments, respectively, of Ad12 DNA in pSV2-gpt. Five of 50 (10%) gABA-transformed cell clones, 12 of 18 (67%) gAE1A-transformed cell clones, and 10 of 18 (56%) gARC-transformed cell clones complemented the growth of Ad5 dl312 (deletion in E1A) and were designated as Gpt+ Ad+ cell clones. In these cell clones at their early passages, recombinant genome sequences were detected in cellular DNA and were expressed. T antigen g (the E1A gene product) was detected by immunofluorescence. The Gpt+ Ad+ cell clones supported the growth of Ad5 deletion mutants in parallel with the expression of Ad12 E1A or E1A plus E1B genes. After infection of Gpt+ Ad+ cell clones with Ad5 dl312, the early genes of dl312 were efficiently transcribed, indicating the expression of the pre-early function of the Ad12 E1A gene. Two clones each from gAE1A-,gARC-, and gABA-transformed cells were subcultured for a long period to determine the stability of the transfecting DNAs. Subculture in a nonselective medium resulted in cells which lost the transfecting DNAs. Subculture in a selective medium resulted in the selection of cells which maintained the gpt gene expression but lost the Ad12 gene expression. These results indicate that the transfecting DNA is present in an unstable state in KB cells.

Cold-sensitive expression of transformation by a host range mutant of type 5 adenovirus

hr1, an E1a (0-4.5 map units) host range mutant of type 5 adenovirus (Ad5), transformed a cloned rat embryo fibroblast (CREF) cell line at about a 5-fold higher frequency than wild-type (wt) Ad5 when cells were cultured at 37 degrees C. However, if the cells were infected with hr1 and maintained at 32 degrees C morphological transformation did not occur. When infected cells were shifted from 32 degrees C to 37 degrees C 2 wk postinfection, the frequency of transformation by 6 wk was identical to that of cells grown continuously at 37 degrees C, whereas cultures shifted from 37 degrees C to 32 degrees C 2 wk postinfection displayed a greater than 96% reduction in morphological transformation. hr1-transformed cells had a fibroblastic morphology as contrasted with the typical epithelioid morphology of wt Ad5-transformed cells, but hr1- and wt Ad5-transformed cells had similar saturation densities, growth rates, and agar cloning efficiencies when assayed at 37 degrees C. However, when cells transformed by hr1 at 37 degrees C were grown at 32 degrees C, they had a saturation density close to that of normal CREF cells and grew at a lower efficiency in agar than wt-transformed cells. DNA transfer/hybridization analysis of two hr1-transformed cloned cell lines, A2 and B3, indicated that A2 cells contained a complete integrated copy of the Ad5 genome, whereas in B3 cells only part of the Ad5 genome was integrated. RNA transfer and RNA/DNA filter hybridization analyses indicated that the types of viral messenger RNAs and the relative amounts of RNA transcribed were similar in the A2 and B3 cell lines when they were grown at 32 degrees C and 37 degrees C. Indirect immunofluorescence, with antisera from hamsters bearing Ad-induced tumors, indicated a temperature dependence in staining--i.e., cells grown at 37 degrees C or shifted from 32 degrees C to 37 degrees C contained intense, particulate staining in the nuclear region, whereas the staining was decreased significantly in cells cultured at 32 degrees C and in cells shifted from 37 degrees C to 32 degrees C. These findings indicate that the gene product affected by the hr1 mutation is cold sensitive and is essential for the expression of the characteristics that identify the transformed cell.

Transformation of rat cells by cyt mutants of adenovirus type 12 and mutants of adenovirus type 5

Several mutants with much reduced oncogenicity (spontaneous mutants H12 cyt 52 and H12 cyt 70 and UV-induced mutants H12 cyt 61, H12 cyt 62, and H12 cyt 68) of the highly oncogenic adenovirus type 12 (Ad12) were studied for their ability to transform primary baby rat kidney cells. Four of the mutants showed much reduced capacity to transform cells in vitro, while H12 cyt 61 transformed cells as efficiently as the wild-type virus. Viral gene expression in several cell lines established from cultures infected by cyt mutants was studied, and it was found that viral sequences belonging to the left 16% of Ad12 were always transcribed. These results suggest that the function of the transformed state is not defective in the cyt mutants studied. Heterotypic complementation studies showed that the defect(s) in a cyt mutant can be corrected by an Ad7 function. Ad5 dl 313, with a deletion between 3.5 and 10.5 map units, transformed rat cells only at high multiplicity. These results suggest that the region E1B of adenoviruses may be required for efficient transformation of rat cells.

Adenovirus-induced alterations of the cell growth cycle: a requirement for expression of E1A but not of E1B

Mutants dl312, dl314, hr1, and hr3 with mutations in region E1A of adenovirus type 5 were defective for the induction of cell cycle abnormalities detectable by flow cytometry, cell DNA replication, thymidine kinase production, and chromosome aberrations and did not synthesize the viral DNA-binding protein (E2A) in rat cells. dl311, a leaky E1A mutant, induced cell cycle effects at high multiplicity in only one of three experiments, and synthesized the DNA-binding protein. hr7 (E1B) gave a wild-type response in all tests. dl313 was also positive in all tests, although it induced fewer polyploid cells than did wild-type virus, probably because of the leftward extension of the dl313 E1B deletion into E1A. sub315 and sub316, with mutations which also span the E1A-E1B border, synthesized DNA-binding protein, but caused no cell cycle alterations detectable by flow cytometry in rat or mouse cells. Although the participation of other viral early regions cannot be completely excluded, our results suggest that alteration of cell cycle progression is a direct effect of E1A unrelated to its control of other viral early regions, and may be the function of E1A in transformation.

Analysis of type 5 adenovirus transformation with a cloned rat embryo cell line (CREF)

A recently isolated cloned cell line of Fischer rat embryo fibroblasts (CREF) can be transformed at high frequency by adenovirus serotype 5 (Ad5). The CREF cells display a near diploid karyotype, do not crisscross at confluency, can be maintained at confluency for greater than 7 wk at 36 degrees C, and do not form macroscopic colonies when seeded in agar. Transformed cells are identified by their altered morphology and the presence of adenovirus DNA sequences in the transformants, which can be demonstrated by lysing cells directly on nitrocellulose filters and hybridizing with 32P-labeled Ad5 DNA (spot hybridization). The frequency of transformation at 36 degrees C is approximately equal to 2 x 10(-4) with wild-type Ad5 and approximately equal to 2 x 10(-3) with the temperature-sensitive mutant H5ts125. Southern blot hybridization analysis indicates that five out of six wild-type Ad5- and six out of six H5ts125-transformed CREF clones isolated at 36 degrees C contain the complete integrated Ad5 genome. Preliminary characterization of four transformed clones (two wild-type and two H5ts125) indicates that, even though transformation was done in CREF cells (a clonal cell line), they differ in their biological properties, such as saturation density and anchorage dependence.

Dependence of tumor-forming capacities of cells transformed by recombinants between adenovirus types 5 and 12 on expression of early region 1

Recombinants between an adenovirus type 5 (Ad5) deletion mutant and the Ad12 DNA fragment containing early region 1 (E1) were isolated from cells cotransfected with the EcoRI-C fragment of Ad12 DNA and Ad5 dl312 (deletion in E1A) DNA (rcA) and from cells cotransfected with the SalI-C fragment of Ad12 DNA and Ad5 dl312 DNA (rcB). No recombinant was isolated from cells cotransfected with Ad5 dl313 (deletion in E1B) DNA and restriction fragments of Ad12 DNA. Both rcA and rcB are defective and able to replicate in human embryo kidney (HEK) and KB cells with complementation by dl312. Both rcA and rcB formed Ad12 T antigen g, but not T antigen f, in infected HEK and KB cells. In rcA- and rcB-infected cells, Ad5 E1B and Ad12 E1A genes are transcribed. Heteroduplex and size analyses of rcA-1 or rcB-1 DNA fragments hybridized with Ad12 DNA revealed that rcA-1 DNA has a deletion between 5 and 15 map units with an insertion of a portion of Ad12 DNA (10%) and that rcB-1 DNA has a deletion between 70 and 80 map units with an insertion of a portion of Ad12 DNA (10%). The transformed cell lines, RCAY and RCBY, were established after infection of rat 3Y1 cells with rcA and rcB, respectively. Both Ad5 and Ad12 DNA sequences are contained in these cells. In RCAY cells, Ad12 T antigen g is detected, but Ad12 T antigen f is not. In RCBY cells, both Ad12 T antigen g and f are detected. Only the Ad12 E1A gene is transcribed in RCAY cells, whereas Ad5 E1B, Ad12 E1A, and Ad12 E1B genes are transcribed in RCBY cells. In soft-agar cultures, RCBY cells form large colonies, whereas RCAY cells form only tiny colonies. RCBY cells form tumors as efficiently as 12WY cells in transplanted rats. RCAY cells formed tumors inefficiently. Ad5-transformed 5WY cells do not form tumors. These observations indicate that the efficient tumor formation by RCBY cells is dependent on the expression of the Ad12 E1A and E1B genes, whereas the inefficient tumor formation by RCAY cells is due to the expression of only the Ad12 E1A gene.

Transformation-deficient adenovirus mutant defective in expression of region 1A but not region 1B

A adenovirus type 5 host range mutant (hr440) has been isolated which is defective in a splicing event required to generate the middle-sized mRNA from early region 1A. This defect has been ascribed to two adjacent nucleotide changes which lie five and six nucleotides from the 5' splice site for this mRNA (Solnick, Nature 291:508-510, 1981). One of these changes introduces an amber codon into the reading frame of the largest region 1A mRNA, resulting in the production of a truncated polypeptide. Like other region 1A mutants, hr440 is defective in the production of mRNA from early regions 2 and 3, but hr440 is unusual in that transcription from regions 1B and 4 is normal. Furthermore, although region 1B expression is unaffected, hr440 does not transform baby rat kidney cells. Therefore, expression of early region 1B is insufficient for transformation, eliminating the possibility that region 1A is required only to induce such expression.