Deletion mutants of polyoma virus defining a nonessential region between the origin of replication and the initiation codon for early proteins

Applications of quantitative PCR in the biosafety and genetic stability assessment of biotechnology products

High throughput screening, increased accuracy and the coupling of real-time quantitative PCR (Q-PCR) to robotic set-up systems are beginning to revolutionise biotechnology. Applications of Q-PCR within biotechnology are discussed with particular emphasis on the following areas of biosafety and genetic stability testing: (a) determination of the biodistribution of gene therapy vectors in animals; (b) quantification of the residual DNA in final product therapeutics; (c) detection of viral and bacterial nucleic acid in contaminated cell banks and final products; (d) quantification of the level of virus removal in process validation viral clearance studies; (e) specific detection of retroviral RT activity in vaccines with high sensitivity; and (f) transgene copy number determination for monitoring genetic stability during production. Methods employed for Q-PCR assay validation as required in ICH Topic Q2A Validation of Analytical Methods: Definitions and Terminology (1st June 1995) are also reviewed.

Mutation of large T-antigen-binding site A, but not site B or C, eliminates stalling by RNA polymerase II in the intergenic region of polyomavirus DNA

During transcription of the late strand of polyomavirus DNA, RNA polymerase II stalls and accumulates nearby the binding sites on viral DNA recognized by polyomavirus large T antigen. Stalling by RNA polymerases is eliminated when thermolabile large T antigen is inactivated by using a temperature-sensitive virus mutant (J. Bertin, N.-A. Sunstrom, P. Jain, and N. H. Acheson, Virology 189:715-724, 1992). To determine whether stalling by RNA polymerases is mediated through the interaction of large T antigen with one or more of its binding sites, viable polyomavirus mutants that contain altered large-T-antigen-binding sites were constructed. Point mutations were introduced by site-directed mutagenesis into the multiple, clustered G(A/G)GGC pentanucleotides known to be the target sequence for large T-antigen binding. Mutation of the G(A/G)GGC pentanucleotides in the first two binding sites encountered by RNA polymerases in the intergenic region (sites C and B) had no detectable effect on stalling as measured by transcriptional run-on analysis. However, mutation of the two GAGGC pentanucleotides in binding site A, which lies adjacent to the origin of viral DNA replication, eliminated stalling by RNA polymerases. We conclude that binding of large T antigen to site A blocks elongation by RNA polymerase II. Further characterization of virus containing mutated site A did not reveal any effects on early transcription levels or on virus DNA replication. However, the mutant virus gave rise to small plaques, suggesting impairment in some stage of virus growth. Stalling of RNA polymerases by large T antigen bound to the intergenic region of viral DNA may function to prevent transcription from displacing proteins whose binding is required for the normal growth of polyomavirus.

Replication-dependent transactivation of the polyomavirus late promoter

When a plasmid containing the wild-type polyomavirus intergenic regulatory region fused to the bacterial cat gene was introduced into mouse NIH 3T3 cells along with a plasmid coding for the early viral proteins (T antigens), chloramphenicol transacetylase enzyme activity and mRNA levels were increased about 10-fold over levels observed in the absence of early proteins. To investigate this transactivation phenomenon further, 11 specific deletion mutant derivatives of the wild-type parent plasmid were constructed and studied. One mutant (NAL) with a minimal level of chloramphenicol transacetylase expression in the absence of T antigens was capable of being transactivated more than 40-fold. A number of other mutants, however, had little capacity for transactivation. Each of these mutants had in common a defect in large T-antigen-mediated DNA replication. Interestingly, one of the transactivation-defective mutants showed a basal late promoter activity fivefold higher than that of wild type and replicated in mouse cells in the absence of large T antigen. Subsequently, a small deletion abolishing viral DNA replication was introduced into those mutants capable of transactivation. The effect of the second deletion was to eliminate both replication and transactivation. Finally, wild-type and mutant constructs were transfected into Fisher rat F-111 cells in the presence or absence of early proteins. No transactivation or replication was ever observed in these cells. We concluded from these studies that the observed transactivation of the polyomavirus late promoter by one or more of the viral early proteins was due to either higher template concentration resulting from DNA replication or replication-associated changes in template conformation.

Deletion analysis of the polyomavirus late promoter: evidence for both positive and negative elements in the absence of early proteins

We have been interested in understanding more about the sequences that constitute the polyomavirus late promoter. Our approach has been to target specific deletions to the viral intergenic region by oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis. Wild-type and mutant promoter cassettes with defined deletions were then inserted into a promoterless expression vector containing the bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) gene (cat). Plasmids were introduced into mouse NIH 3T3 cells by transfection, and promoter activities were assessed by quantitation of both CAT enzyme and cat mRNA levels. In this report, we present the results of experiments designed to map promoter elements which affect late transcription in the absence of early viral proteins and viral DNA replication. Using this approach, we mapped two major cis-acting elements (a positive and a negative one) which affect transcription in our transient expression system. The first, positive, element coincided with the enhancer A element, which is known to be important for early transcription and viral DNA replication. Removal of this element reduced late transcription by 50- to 100-fold. The second element was a negative one; removal of 89 base pairs that included two high-affinity large-T-antigen-binding sites just to the early side of the inverted repeat structure within the replication origin resulted in a 5- to 10-fold increase in late promoter activity. The implications of these findings for late promoter function and regulation are discussed.

Viral DNA synthesis in nonpermissive rat F-111 cells and its role in neoplastic transformation by polyomavirus

We have investigated the occurrence and role of polyomavirus DNA synthesis in neoplastic transformation by this virus. We show that after infection of Fischer rat F-111 cells at 37 degrees C, there is two- to threefold increase in the level of viral DNA as compared with the input signal, with a peak observed between 5 and 7 days postinfection. Viral DNA synthesis is about 10 times higher at 33 degrees C and increases up to 15 days postinfection. Most of the viral DNA produced is supercoiled (form I DNA). On the basis of in situ hybridization, it appears that viral replication is restricted to a small fraction of the population. At the lower temperature, more cells are permissive for viral DNA synthesis and the level of synthesis per permissive cell is higher. The DNA synthesis observed is large T-antigen dependent, and the increase in viral DNA synthesis at 33 degrees C is paralleled by an increase in the expression of this viral protein. When large T antigen is inactivated, the half-life of de novo-synthesized viral DNA is less than 12 h, suggesting that large T antigen may be responsible for the stability of the viral genomes as well as their synthesis. Surprisingly, at early times postinfection (0 to 48 h), when the essential function of large T antigen in transformation is expressed (as demonstrated in shift-up experiments with tsa mutants), the level of large T antigen is below the detection level and is at least 10-fold lower than the levels observed in permissive infections at the start of viral DNA synthesis. The difference in viral DNA at 37 and 33 degrees C allowed us to study its effect on transformation. Although an increase in transformation frequency is observed in wild-type A2 infections carried at 33 degrees C (frequencies two to three times higher than at 37 degrees C), this increase appears to be unrelated to the increase in viral DNA synthesis. Furthermore, the overall level of viral DNA and large T antigen in F-111 cells may not affect the integration of the viral genome, since the patterns of integration in cells transformed by wild-type A2 at 33 and 37 degrees C appear similar. The results are compatible with a role for large T antigen in integration-transformation which is not simply to amplify the viral genome to enhance the probability of its integration.

Viral DNA synthesis in nonpermissive rat F-111 cells and its role in neoplastic transformation by polyomavirus

We have investigated the occurrence and role of polyomavirus DNA synthesis in neoplastic transformation by this virus. We show that after infection of Fischer rat F-111 cells at 37 degrees C, there is two- to threefold increase in the level of viral DNA as compared with the input signal, with a peak observed between 5 and 7 days postinfection. Viral DNA synthesis is about 10 times higher at 33 degrees C and increases up to 15 days postinfection. Most of the viral DNA produced is supercoiled (form I DNA). On the basis of in situ hybridization, it appears that viral replication is restricted to a small fraction of the population. At the lower temperature, more cells are permissive for viral DNA synthesis and the level of synthesis per permissive cell is higher. The DNA synthesis observed is large T-antigen dependent, and the increase in viral DNA synthesis at 33 degrees C is paralleled by an increase in the expression of this viral protein. When large T antigen is inactivated, the half-life of de novo-synthesized viral DNA is less than 12 h, suggesting that large T antigen may be responsible for the stability of the viral genomes as well as their synthesis. Surprisingly, at early times postinfection (0 to 48 h), when the essential function of large T antigen in transformation is expressed (as demonstrated in shift-up experiments with tsa mutants), the level of large T antigen is below the detection level and is at least 10-fold lower than the levels observed in permissive infections at the start of viral DNA synthesis. The difference in viral DNA at 37 and 33 degrees C allowed us to study its effect on transformation. Although an increase in transformation frequency is observed in wild-type A2 infections carried at 33 degrees C (frequencies two to three times higher than at 37 degrees C), this increase appears to be unrelated to the increase in viral DNA synthesis. Furthermore, the overall level of viral DNA and large T antigen in F-111 cells may not affect the integration of the viral genome, since the patterns of integration in cells transformed by wild-type A2 at 33 and 37 degrees C appear similar. The results are compatible with a role for large T antigen in integration-transformation which is not simply to amplify the viral genome to enhance the probability of its integration.

DNA sequences required for specific and efficient initiation of transcription at the polyoma virus early promoter

The 5'-flanking DNA sequences involved in the specific and efficient transcription of the polyoma virus early region have been investigated. Sequence requirements for efficient in vivo expression differed from those in vitro. Deletion of DNA located between 200 and 400 base pairs before the principal cap sites severely inhibited in vivo expression as measured by transformation ability, but did not affect in vitro transcription. Viable deletion mutants which lack the principal cap sites and the "TATA" box were very poor templates for in vitro transcription. Analysis of other deletion mutants in vitro demonstrated that no specific sequences more than 46 base pairs before the cap sites were important. Removal of the TATA box reduced in vitro transcriptional efficiency but did not alter the initiation sites. The synthesis of transcripts with abnormal 5' termini did not occur in vitro until sequence between the TATA box and the normal cap sites was also deleted. We further observed a nonspecific requirement for 90 to 100 base pairs of DNA 5' to the cap site for optimal transcription of DNA fragments in vitro.

Isolation of a polyomavirus with an insertion of foreign DNA in the early gene promoter region

We have isolated a polyomavirus with 134 base pairs of foreign DNA between the origin of replication and the early promoter. The insertion reduces the infectivity of the virus by interfering with events required for the initiation of infection. mRNA transcripts from the early region exhibit a marked heterogeneity of 5' termini.

Regulation of polyomavirus transcription by large tumor antigen

We have analyzed the regulation of viral transcription by the large tumor antigen in cells infected by several viable deletion and insertion mutants of polyomavirus. We find that deletion of the early promoter "TATA box" and associated large tumor antigen binding site has only a small effect on the balance of early and late mRNAs. Furthermore, transcription of a polyomavirus containing a heterologous adenovirus promoter in place of the normal TATA box and cap sites is regulated by the large tumor antigen. We conclude that repression of polyomavirus early transcription cannot occur simply by binding of the large tumor antigen to DNA sequences at the site of transcription initiation and must involve the interaction of the large tumor antigen binding at other sites.

Translation efficiency of adenovirus early region 1A mRNAs deleted in the 5' untranslated region

Adenovirus deletion mutants were studied to examine the influence of the 5' untranslated sequence on the translation of early region 1A mRNAs. Alterations of the 5' untranslated sequence, including complete deletion of the wild-type 5' untranslated sequence, did not significantly affect the rate of translation.

DNA binding activity of polyoma virus large tumor antigen

Polyoma virus large tumor antigen from productively infected mouse cells has been purified to greater than 50% homogeneity by a simple immunoaffinity procedure using monoclonal antibodies. A radioimmunoreaction was devised for assaying purity. The purified large tumor antigen retained its antigenicity and its ability to bind DNA specifically. The regions on the polyoma virus genome recognized by the protein were characterized. Three binding regions were localized within the portion of the genome between the viral origin of DNA replication and the protein coding sequence, overlapping the early promoter and the sites of initiation of mRNAs that specify the viral tumor antigens. The binding regions each contain direct repeats of the pentanucleotide sequence G-R-G-G-C.

Non-contiguous segments of the polyoma genome required in cis for DNA replication

The boundaries of the origin of polyoma DNA replication have been analyzed using a set of deletion mutants. The majority of these had small deletions, 5 to 30 basepairs in size, which together removed most of the non-translated sequences of the genome. The phenotype of the mutants was characterized by analysis of infectivity, transforming ability and DNA synthesis. All mutants with reduced or abolished infectivity had corresponding defects of viral DNA synthesis. The effect of the deletion was cis-acting, since the replication of the mutants was not stimulated by the presence of wild-type DNA. Deletions causing a reduction of DNA synthesis were found at two sites. The first at the 32 base-pair inverted repeat sequence and the neighbouring A . T tract previously implicated in the initiation of DNA synthesis, and the second close to the late genes. The two sites were separated by at least 60 base-pairs of non-essential DNA. Only one mutant with a deletion at the second site was unable to express early gene functions. The mutants were constructed by linearization, shortening and recircularization of polyoma DNA inserted into the plasmid pBR322. The mutagenesis was directed at restriction endonuclease BglI or PvuII cleavage sites. The BglI-directed mutagenesis was focussed to polyoma DNA by using as a vector a derivative of pBR322 resistant to cleavage by BglI.

DNA sequences required for specific and efficient initiation of transcription at the polyoma virus early promoter

The 5'-flanking DNA sequences involved in the specific and efficient transcription of the polyoma virus early region have been investigated. Sequence requirements for efficient in vivo expression differed from those in vitro. Deletion of DNA located between 200 and 400 base pairs before the principal cap sites severely inhibited in vivo expression as measured by transformation ability, but did not affect in vitro transcription. Viable deletion mutants which lack the principal cap sites and the "TATA" box were very poor templates for in vitro transcription. Analysis of other deletion mutants in vitro demonstrated that no specific sequences more than 46 base pairs before the cap sites were important. Removal of the TATA box reduced in vitro transcriptional efficiency but did not alter the initiation sites. The synthesis of transcripts with abnormal 5' termini did not occur in vitro until sequence between the TATA box and the normal cap sites was also deleted. We further observed a nonspecific requirement for 90 to 100 base pairs of DNA 5' to the cap site for optimal transcription of DNA fragments in vitro.

Transforming genes and gene products of polyoma and SV40

The small DNA-containing viruses, SV40 and polyoma, transform cells in vitro and induce tumors in vivo. For both viruses two genes required for transformation have been found. The genes required for transformation are also involved in productive infection. Although the two viruses are similar in their effects on cells, the organization of the transforming genes and gene products is different. The purpose of this review is to compare what is known about the biology and the biochemistry of the early regions of the two viruses. The genetic and biochemical studies defining the sequences important for transformation will be reviewed. Then, the products of the transforming genes, called T antigens, will be discussed in detail. There is a substantial body of descriptive information on those products, and studies on the function of the T antigens have also begun.

A region of the polyoma virus genome between the replication origin and late protein coding sequences is required in cis for both early gene expression and viral DNA replication

Deletion mutants within the Py DNA region between the replication origin and the beginning of late protein coding sequences have been constructed and analysed for viability, early gene expression and viral DNA replication. Assay of replicative competence was facilitated by the use of Py transformed mouse cells (COP lines) which express functional large T-protein but contain no free viral DNA. Viable mutants defined three new nonessential regions of the genome. Certain deletions spanning the PvuII site at nt 5130 (67.4 mu) were unable to express early genes and had a cis-acting defect in DNA replication. Other mutants had intermediate phenotypes. Relevance of these results to eucaryotic "enhancer" elements is discussed.

Viable deletion mutant in the medium and large T-antigen-coding sequences of the polyoma virus genome

A polyoma virus mutant that maps in the early region between the known hr-t and ts-a mutants has been isolated. Its 66-base-pair deletion results in structural changes in both medium and large T-antigens but causes no substantial alterations in viral replication or cell transformation.