Simian virus 40-rabbit beta-globin recombinants lacking late mRNA splice sites express cytoplasmic RNAs with altered structures

Moments of Discovery

Devoted teachers and mentors during early childhood and adolescence nurtured my ambition to become a scientist, but it was not until I actually began doing experiments in college and graduate school that I was confident about that choice and of making it a reality. During my postdoctoral experiences and thereafter, I made several significant advances, most notably the discovery of the then novel acyl- and aminoacyl adenylates: the former as intermediates in fatty acyl coenzyme A (CoA) formation and the latter as precursors to aminoacyl tRNAs. In the early 1970s, my research changed from a focus on transcription and translation in Escherichia coli to the molecular genetics of mammalian cells. To that end, my laboratory developed a method for creating recombinant DNAs that led us and others, over the next two decades, to create increasingly sophisticated ways for introducing “foreign” DNAs into cultured mammalian cells and to target modifications of specific chromosomal loci. Circumstances surrounding that work drew me into the public policy debates regarding recombinant DNA practices. As an outgrowth of my commitment to teaching, I coauthored several textbooks on molecular genetics and a biography of George Beadle. The colleagues, students, and wealth of associates with whom I interacted have made being a scientist far richer than I can have imagined.

Genetic test for involvement of intervening sequences in transport of nuclear RNA

The construction of a recombinant virus in the late region of simian virus 40 is presented. The small intervening sequence of late 19S RNA (0.760 to 0.765 map unit) was cloned and inserted into the EcoRI site (1.0 map unit) in the late region of simian virus 40. This is a mutant virus that now has two intervening sequences, one at the normal position (0.760 map unit) and another out of the context of its flanking sequence and now at 1.0 map unit. The recombinant appears poisonous, as repeated attempts to plaque it as a virus with a standard helper virus were unsuccessful. The transcription of this recombinant was, therefore, studied after direct DNA transfection onto CV-1 cells. Nuclease S1 analysis of mutant RNA indicates that the major nuclear transcript was a spliced but nuclear 16S RNA species. Normally, 16S RNA is not found in the nucleus. This result was shown to be an artifact of the DNA transfection protocol. When the glycerol shock was done after infection with virus, a similar alteration in the makeup of nuclear RNA was seen. A transient stock of this double-intron mutant was finally obtained, using a nonrevertable helper virus. The transcriptional analysis of this mutant showed that unspliced 19S RNA was not transported and remained within the nucleus, whereas spliced 19S and 16S RNAs were transported. We conclude that the retention of nuclear transcripts within the nucleus is not simply due to the presence of intronic sequences, as spliced 19S and 16S RNAs which contain the second intron were efficiently transported.

Genetic test for involvement of intervening sequences in transport of nuclear RNA

The construction of a recombinant virus in the late region of simian virus 40 is presented. The small intervening sequence of late 19S RNA (0.760 to 0.765 map unit) was cloned and inserted into the EcoRI site (1.0 map unit) in the late region of simian virus 40. This is a mutant virus that now has two intervening sequences, one at the normal position (0.760 map unit) and another out of the context of its flanking sequence and now at 1.0 map unit. The recombinant appears poisonous, as repeated attempts to plaque it as a virus with a standard helper virus were unsuccessful. The transcription of this recombinant was, therefore, studied after direct DNA transfection onto CV-1 cells. Nuclease S1 analysis of mutant RNA indicates that the major nuclear transcript was a spliced but nuclear 16S RNA species. Normally, 16S RNA is not found in the nucleus. This result was shown to be an artifact of the DNA transfection protocol. When the glycerol shock was done after infection with virus, a similar alteration in the makeup of nuclear RNA was seen. A transient stock of this double-intron mutant was finally obtained, using a nonrevertable helper virus. The transcriptional analysis of this mutant showed that unspliced 19S RNA was not transported and remained within the nucleus, whereas spliced 19S and 16S RNAs were transported. We conclude that the retention of nuclear transcripts within the nucleus is not simply due to the presence of intronic sequences, as spliced 19S and 16S RNAs which contain the second intron were efficiently transported.

Simian virus 40 host range/helper function mutations cause multiple defects in viral late gene expression

Simian virus 40 (SV40) deletion mutants dlA2459 and dlA2475 express T antigens that lack the normal carboxy terminus. These mutants are called host range/helper function (hr/hf) mutants because they form plaques at 37 degrees C on BSC-1 and Vero monkey kidney cell lines but not on CV-1p monkey kidney cells. Wild-type SV40 can provide a helper function to permit growth of human adenoviruses in monkey kidney cells; the hr/hf mutants cannot. Progeny yields of hr/hf mutants are also cold sensitive in all cell lines tested. Patterns of viral macromolecular synthesis in three cell lines (Vero, BSC-1, and CV-1) at three temperatures (40, 37, and 32 degrees C) were examined to determine the nature of the growth defect of hr/hf mutants. Mutant viral DNA replication was similar to that of the wild type in all three cell lines, indicating that the mutations affect late events in the viral lytic cycle. In mutant-infected Vero cells, in which viral yields were highest, late mRNA levels were similar to those observed during wild-type infection. Levels of viral late mRNA from mutant-infected CV-1 and BSC-1 cells at 32 and 37 degrees C were reduced relative to those of wild-type-infected cells. The steady-state level of the major viral capsid protein, VP1, in mutant-infected CV-1 cells was reduced to the same extent as was late mRNA. The synthesis of agnoprotein could not be detected in mutant-infected CV-1 cells but was readily detected in CV-1 cells infected by wild-type SV40. Primer extension analyses indicated that most late mRNAs from mutant-infected CV-1 cells utilize start sites downstream from the major wild-type cap site (nucleotide 325) and the agnoprotein initiation codon (nucleotide 335). These results indicate that deletion of the carboxyl-terminal domain of T antigen affects viral late mRNA production, both quantitatively and qualitatively. The agnoprotein is detected late in the wild-type SV40 lytic cycle and is thought to play a role in the assembly or maturation of virions. Reduced hr/hf progeny yields could result from decreased capsid protein synthesis and, in the absence of detectable levels of agnoprotein, from inefficient use of available capsid proteins.

Patterns of polyadenylation site selection in gene constructs containing multiple polyadenylation signals

We have constructed a series of plasmids containing multiple polyadenylation signals downstream of the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV) thymidine kinase (tk)-coding region. The signals used were from the simian virus 40 (SV40) late gene, the HSV tk gene, and an AATAAA-containing segment of the SV40 early region. This last fragment signals polyadenylation poorly in our constructs and not at all during SV40 infection. All plasmids contained the SV40 origin of replication. Plasmids were transfected into Cos-1 cells; after 48 h, cytoplasmic RNA was isolated and the quantity and 3'-end structure of tk mRNAs was analyzed by using S1 nuclease protection assays. In all constructs, all polyadenylation signals were used. Increasing the number of poly(A) signals 3' to the tk-coding region did not affect the total amount of polyadenylated RNA produced, even with the weakest signal. Increasing the distance between two signals caused an increase in the use of the 5' signal and a decrease in the use of the 3' signal. Changing the distance between the 5' cap and first signal did not affect signal use. Analyses of cytoplasmic mRNA stability, nuclear RNA distribution, and transcription in the polyadenylation signal region indicated that the distribution of tk RNAs ending at different poly(A) sites was the result of poly(A) signal choice, not other aspects of RNA metabolism. Four possible mechanisms of polyadenylation signal recognition are discussed.

Comparison of intron-dependent and intron-independent gene expression

Recombinant simian virus 40 viruses carrying rabbit beta-globin cDNA failed to express the beta-globin sequence unless an intron was included in the transcription unit. The addition of either beta-globin IVS1 or IVS2 caused a 400-fold increase in RNA production. Stable beta-globin RNA production required sequences in IVS2 that were very close to the splice sites and that coincided with those needed for mRNA splicing. In addition to the recombinant viruses, intron-dependent expression was observed with both replicating and nonreplicating plasmid vectors in short-term transfections of cultured animal cells. Unlike transcriptional enhancer elements, IVS2 failed to increase stable RNA production when it was placed downstream of the polyadenylation site. Using a plasmid vector system to survey different inserted sequences for their dependence on introns for expression, we found that the presence of IVS2 stimulated the expression of these sequences 2- to 500-fold. Sequences from the transcribed region of the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene, a gene that lacks an intervening sequence, permitted substantial intron-independent expression (greater than 100-fold increase) in the plasmid vector system.

Patterns of polyadenylation site selection in gene constructs containing multiple polyadenylation signals

We have constructed a series of plasmids containing multiple polyadenylation signals downstream of the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV) thymidine kinase (tk)-coding region. The signals used were from the simian virus 40 (SV40) late gene, the HSV tk gene, and an AATAAA-containing segment of the SV40 early region. This last fragment signals polyadenylation poorly in our constructs and not at all during SV40 infection. All plasmids contained the SV40 origin of replication. Plasmids were transfected into Cos-1 cells; after 48 h, cytoplasmic RNA was isolated and the quantity and 3'-end structure of tk mRNAs was analyzed by using S1 nuclease protection assays. In all constructs, all polyadenylation signals were used. Increasing the number of poly(A) signals 3' to the tk-coding region did not affect the total amount of polyadenylated RNA produced, even with the weakest signal. Increasing the distance between two signals caused an increase in the use of the 5' signal and a decrease in the use of the 3' signal. Changing the distance between the 5' cap and first signal did not affect signal use. Analyses of cytoplasmic mRNA stability, nuclear RNA distribution, and transcription in the polyadenylation signal region indicated that the distribution of tk RNAs ending at different poly(A) sites was the result of poly(A) signal choice, not other aspects of RNA metabolism. Four possible mechanisms of polyadenylation signal recognition are discussed.

Comparison of intron-dependent and intron-independent gene expression

Recombinant simian virus 40 viruses carrying rabbit beta-globin cDNA failed to express the beta-globin sequence unless an intron was included in the transcription unit. The addition of either beta-globin IVS1 or IVS2 caused a 400-fold increase in RNA production. Stable beta-globin RNA production required sequences in IVS2 that were very close to the splice sites and that coincided with those needed for mRNA splicing. In addition to the recombinant viruses, intron-dependent expression was observed with both replicating and nonreplicating plasmid vectors in short-term transfections of cultured animal cells. Unlike transcriptional enhancer elements, IVS2 failed to increase stable RNA production when it was placed downstream of the polyadenylation site. Using a plasmid vector system to survey different inserted sequences for their dependence on introns for expression, we found that the presence of IVS2 stimulated the expression of these sequences 2- to 500-fold. Sequences from the transcribed region of the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene, a gene that lacks an intervening sequence, permitted substantial intron-independent expression (greater than 100-fold increase) in the plasmid vector system.

The late spliced 19S and 16S RNAs of simian virus 40 can be synthesized from a common pool of transcripts

The late transcripts from the simian virus 40 (SV40) are alternatively spliced into two classes of spliced RNAs, 19S and 16S in size. We are interested in understanding the precursor-product relationships that result in the excision of different intervening sequences (introns) from the late transcripts. SV40 mutants containing precise deletions of the introns for each of the spliced 19S and 16S RNA species, including a previously undetected doubly spliced 19S RNA species, were isolated. Analysis by S1 mapping and a modified primer extension technique of the viral RNAs made in monkey cells transfected with each of these mutants led to the following conclusions. (i) Spliced late 19S RNA is not an intermediate in the synthesis of the late 16S RNAs. (ii) The 3' splice site used in the synthesis of the late 16S RNAs can join, albeit inefficiently, with alternative 5' splice sites in the absence of the 5' splice site normally used to synthesize 16S RNA. (iii) There is no obligatory order of excision of introns in the formation of the doubly spliced SV40 late 19S and 16S RNA species. A mutant was constructed by site-directed mutagenesis in which the 5'-proximal 3' splice site used in the synthesis of the doubly spliced RNAs is inactive. Cells transfected with this mutant processed transcripts into 19S RNA which, in wild-type-transfected cells, would have become doubly spliced 16S RNA. Therefore, we conclude that some of the spliced late 19S and 16S RNA can be synthesized from a common pool of transcripts.

Fine-structure analysis of the processing and polyadenylation region of the herpes simplex virus type 1 thymidine kinase gene by using linker scanning, internal deletion, and insertion mutations

Most eucaryotic mRNAs are polyadenylated. In higher eucaryotes, the sequence AATAAA is located 7 to 30 base pairs (bp) upstream from the site of processing and polyadenylation and is a critical part of the signal for processing and polyadenylation. Efficient cleavage and polyadenylation also require sequences downstream of polyadenylation sites. The herpes simplex virus type 1 thymidine kinase (tk) gene contains two copies of the AATAAA hexanucleotide and a GT box (18 of 19 consecutive residues are G or T) previously shown to be required for efficient processing and polyadenylation of tk mRNA (C. N. Cole and T. P. Stacy, Mol. Cell. Biol., 5:2104-2113). To define further the sequence requirements for efficient polyadenylation, we prepared linker scanning, internal deletion, and small insertion mutations in the polyadenylation region of the tk gene. These mutations were analyzed by S1 nuclease protection analysis of cytoplasmic RNA isolated from transfected Cos-1 monkey kidney cells. When the proximal AATAAA was deleted, no tk mRNA polyadenylated in the normal region was detected, whereas replacement of the second AATAAA with an XbaI linker had no effect on polyadenylation. When various portions of the GT box were replaced with linker, the amount of tk mRNA produced was reduced to 23 to 82% of the normal amount, but polyadenylation in the normal region was never abolished. Thus, no single portion of the GT box was absolutely required. In some cases, extended transcripts, polyadenylated at a cryptic site within pBR322, were detected. A spacing of 6 bp between AATAAA and the GT box was too short for efficient processing and polyadenylation. A spacing of 30 bp appeared to work almost as efficiently as did the wild-type spacing of 18 bp. Taken together, these results indicate that efficient polyadenylation requires both AATAAA and downstream GT-rich sequences. In addition, processing and polyadenylation are affected both qualitatively and quantitatively by sequences at polyadenylation sites and at more distant locations.

Alternative splicing of SV40 early pre-mRNA in vitro

Simian virus 40 (SV40) early pre-mRNA is spliced using either of two alternative 5' splice sites and a common 3' splice site to produce two mRNAs that encode the T and t antigens. We have studied alternative splicing of SV40 early pre-mRNA in vitro using a HeLa cell nuclear extract. Synthetic SV40 early transcripts are processed to T and t antigen mRNAs in vitro. As in SV40-infected cells in vivo, cleavage at the T antigen 5' splice site is more efficient than cleavage at the t antigen 5' splice site in vitro, although both of these 5' splice sites are utilized relatively inefficiently in vitro. The ratio of cleavage at the T and t antigen 5' splice sites is not changed significantly by a number of alterations in the conditions under which the in vitro splicing reactions are carried out.

Fine-structure analysis of the processing and polyadenylation region of the herpes simplex virus type 1 thymidine kinase gene by using linker scanning, internal deletion, and insertion mutations

Most eucaryotic mRNAs are polyadenylated. In higher eucaryotes, the sequence AATAAA is located 7 to 30 base pairs (bp) upstream from the site of processing and polyadenylation and is a critical part of the signal for processing and polyadenylation. Efficient cleavage and polyadenylation also require sequences downstream of polyadenylation sites. The herpes simplex virus type 1 thymidine kinase (tk) gene contains two copies of the AATAAA hexanucleotide and a GT box (18 of 19 consecutive residues are G or T) previously shown to be required for efficient processing and polyadenylation of tk mRNA (C. N. Cole and T. P. Stacy, Mol. Cell. Biol., 5:2104-2113). To define further the sequence requirements for efficient polyadenylation, we prepared linker scanning, internal deletion, and small insertion mutations in the polyadenylation region of the tk gene. These mutations were analyzed by S1 nuclease protection analysis of cytoplasmic RNA isolated from transfected Cos-1 monkey kidney cells. When the proximal AATAAA was deleted, no tk mRNA polyadenylated in the normal region was detected, whereas replacement of the second AATAAA with an XbaI linker had no effect on polyadenylation. When various portions of the GT box were replaced with linker, the amount of tk mRNA produced was reduced to 23 to 82% of the normal amount, but polyadenylation in the normal region was never abolished. Thus, no single portion of the GT box was absolutely required. In some cases, extended transcripts, polyadenylated at a cryptic site within pBR322, were detected. A spacing of 6 bp between AATAAA and the GT box was too short for efficient processing and polyadenylation. A spacing of 30 bp appeared to work almost as efficiently as did the wild-type spacing of 18 bp. Taken together, these results indicate that efficient polyadenylation requires both AATAAA and downstream GT-rich sequences. In addition, processing and polyadenylation are affected both qualitatively and quantitatively by sequences at polyadenylation sites and at more distant locations.

Identification of sequences in the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene required for efficient processing and polyadenylation

The herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 thymidine kinase gene (tk) was resected from its 3' end with BAL 31 exonuclease. Two sets of plasmids were isolated that lacked information distal to the two copies of the hexanucleotide 5'-AATAAA-3' located at the 3' end of the HSV tk gene. The presence of a simian virus 40 origin of DNA replication in each plasmid facilitated analysis of patterns of transcription in transfected Cos-1 monkey cells. Transcription analyses were performed with an S1 nuclease protection assay. Efficient processing and polyadenylation at the normal site still occurred when all sequences more than 44 or 46 base pairs (bp) downstream from the first AATAAA were removed (pTK311R/SV010 and pTK209R/SV010). Removal of an additional 7 bp (pTK312R/SV010) decreased the amount of tk mRNA processed at that normal site, and tk mRNA polyadenylated at a cryptic site within pBR322 sequences began to appear. The normal processing and polyadenylation site was not used at all when an additional 12 bp was removed (pTK314R/SV010); the small amount of tk mRNA produced was processed and polyadenylated at the cryptic pBR322 site. The region of the tk gene critical for efficient processing and polyadenylation of tk mRNA is located 20 to 38 bp downstream from the first AATAAA, distal to the polyadenylation site, and as RNA can form a stem-loop structure containing AAUAAA. Similar G + T-rich elements were located in DNA fragments which substitute efficiently for the HSV tk processing and polyadenylation signal and were not found in AATAAA-containing DNA fragments which substitute inefficiently for the HSV tk signal.

Virus deletion mutants that affect a 3' splice site in the E3 transcription unit of adenovirus 2

Five viable virus mutants were constructed with deletions near a 3' splice site located at nucleotide 2157 in the E3 transcription unit of adenovirus 2. The mutants were examined for splicing activity at the 2157 3' splice site in vivo by nuclease-gel analysis of steady-state cytoplasmic mRNA. Splicing was not prevented by an exon deletion (dl719) that leaves 16 5'-proximal exon nucleotides intact or by intron deletions that leave 34 (dl717, dl712) or 18 (dl716) 3'-proximal intron nucleotides intact. The sequences deleted in one of these intron mutants (dl716) include the putative branchpoint site used in lariat formation during splicing. Thus, a surrogate branchpoint site apparently can be used for splicing. Another intron mutant (dl714) has a deletion that leaves 15 3'-proximal intron nucleotides intact; remarkably, this deletion virtually abolished splicing, even though the deletion is only 3 nucleotides closer to the splice site than is the deletion in dl716 which splices normally. The three nucleotides deleted in dl714 that are retained by dl716 are the sequence TGT. The TGT sequence is located on the 5' boundary of the pyrimidine-rich region upstream of the nucleotide 2157 3' splice site. Such pyrimidine-rich regions are ubiquitous at 3' splice sites. Most likely, the TGT is required for splicing at the nucleotide 2157 3' splice site. The TGT may be important because of its specific sequence or because it forms the 5' boundary of the pyrimidine-rich region.

Virus deletion mutants that affect a 3' splice site in the E3 transcription unit of adenovirus 2

Five viable virus mutants were constructed with deletions near a 3' splice site located at nucleotide 2157 in the E3 transcription unit of adenovirus 2. The mutants were examined for splicing activity at the 2157 3' splice site in vivo by nuclease-gel analysis of steady-state cytoplasmic mRNA. Splicing was not prevented by an exon deletion (dl719) that leaves 16 5'-proximal exon nucleotides intact or by intron deletions that leave 34 (dl717, dl712) or 18 (dl716) 3'-proximal intron nucleotides intact. The sequences deleted in one of these intron mutants (dl716) include the putative branchpoint site used in lariat formation during splicing. Thus, a surrogate branchpoint site apparently can be used for splicing. Another intron mutant (dl714) has a deletion that leaves 15 3'-proximal intron nucleotides intact; remarkably, this deletion virtually abolished splicing, even though the deletion is only 3 nucleotides closer to the splice site than is the deletion in dl716 which splices normally. The three nucleotides deleted in dl714 that are retained by dl716 are the sequence TGT. The TGT sequence is located on the 5' boundary of the pyrimidine-rich region upstream of the nucleotide 2157 3' splice site. Such pyrimidine-rich regions are ubiquitous at 3' splice sites. Most likely, the TGT is required for splicing at the nucleotide 2157 3' splice site. The TGT may be important because of its specific sequence or because it forms the 5' boundary of the pyrimidine-rich region.

Identification of sequences in the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene required for efficient processing and polyadenylation

The herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 thymidine kinase gene (tk) was resected from its 3' end with BAL 31 exonuclease. Two sets of plasmids were isolated that lacked information distal to the two copies of the hexanucleotide 5'-AATAAA-3' located at the 3' end of the HSV tk gene. The presence of a simian virus 40 origin of DNA replication in each plasmid facilitated analysis of patterns of transcription in transfected Cos-1 monkey cells. Transcription analyses were performed with an S1 nuclease protection assay. Efficient processing and polyadenylation at the normal site still occurred when all sequences more than 44 or 46 base pairs (bp) downstream from the first AATAAA were removed (pTK311R/SV010 and pTK209R/SV010). Removal of an additional 7 bp (pTK312R/SV010) decreased the amount of tk mRNA processed at that normal site, and tk mRNA polyadenylated at a cryptic site within pBR322 sequences began to appear. The normal processing and polyadenylation site was not used at all when an additional 12 bp was removed (pTK314R/SV010); the small amount of tk mRNA produced was processed and polyadenylated at the cryptic pBR322 site. The region of the tk gene critical for efficient processing and polyadenylation of tk mRNA is located 20 to 38 bp downstream from the first AATAAA, distal to the polyadenylation site, and as RNA can form a stem-loop structure containing AAUAAA. Similar G + T-rich elements were located in DNA fragments which substitute efficiently for the HSV tk processing and polyadenylation signal and were not found in AATAAA-containing DNA fragments which substitute inefficiently for the HSV tk signal.

Nucleocytoplasmic RNA transport

A number of closely related post-transcriptional facets of RNA metabolism show nuclear compartmentation, including capping, methylation, splicing reactions, and packaging in ribonucleoprotein particles (RNP). These nuclear 'processing' events are followed by the translocation of the finished product across the nuclear envelope. Due to the inherent complexity of these interrelated events, in vitro systems have been designed to examine the processes separately, particularly so with regard to translocation. A few studies have utilized nuclear transplantation/microinjection techniques and specialized systems to show that RNA transport occurs as a regulated phenomenon. While isolated nuclei swell in aqueous media and dramatic loss of nuclear protein is associated with this swelling, loss of RNA is not substantial, and most studies on RNA translocation have employed isolated nuclei. The quantity of RNA transported from isolated nuclei is related to hydrolysis of high-energy phosphate bonds in nucleotide additives. The RNA is released predominantly in RNP: messenger-like RNA is released in RNP which have buoyant density and polypeptide composition similar to cytoplasmic messenger RNP, but which have distinctly different composition from those in heterogeneous nuclear RNP. Mature 18 and 28S ribosomal RNA is released in 40 and 60S RNP which represent mature ribosomal subunits. RNA transport proceeds with characteristics of an energy-requiring process, and proceeds independently of the presence or state of fluidity of nuclear membranes. The energy for transport appears to be utilized by a nucleoside triphosphatase (NTPase) which is distributed mainly within heterochromatin at the peripheral lamina. Photoaffinity labeling has identified the pertinent NTPase as a 46 kD polypeptide which is associated with nuclear envelope and matrix preparations. The NTPase does not appear to be modulated via direct phosphorylation or to reflect kinase-phosphatase activities. A large number of additives (including RNA and insulin) produce parallel effects upon RNA transport and nuclear envelope NTPase, strengthening the correlative relationship between these activities. Of particular interest has been the finding that carcinogens induce specific, long-lasting increases in nuclear envelope (and matrix) NTPase; this derangement may underlie the alterations in RNA transport associated with cancer and carcinogenesis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Two separable functional domains of simian virus 40 large T antigen: carboxyl-terminal region of simian virus 40 large T antigen is required for efficient capsid protein synthesis

The carboxyl-terminal portion of simian virus 40 large T antigen is essential for productive infection of CV-1 and CV-1p green monkey kidney cells. Mutant dlA2459, lacking 14 base pairs at 0.193 map units, was positive for viral DNA replication, but unable to form plaques in CV-1p cells (J. Tornow and C.N. Cole, J. Virol. 47:487-494, 1983). In this report, the defect of dlA2459 is further defined. Simian virus 40 late mRNAs were transcribed, polyadenylated, spliced, and transported in dlA2459-infected cells, but the level of capsid proteins produced in infected CV-1 green monkey kidney cells was extremely low. dlA2459 large T antigen lacks those residues known to be required for adenovirus helper function, and the block to productive infection by dlA2459 occurs at the same stage of infection as the block to productive adenovirus infection of CV-1 cells. These results suggest that the adenovirus helper function is required for productive infection by simian virus 40. Mutant dlA2459 was able to grow on the Vero and BSC-1 lines of African green monkey kidney cells. Additional mutants affecting the carboxyl-terminal portion of large T were prepared. Mutant inv2408 contains an inversion of the DNA between the BamHI and BclI sites (0.144 to 0.189 map units). This inversion causes transposition of the carboxyl-terminal 26 amino acids of large T antigen and the carboxyl-terminal 18 amino acids of VP1. This mutant was viable, even though the essential information absent from dlA2459 large T antigen has been transferred to the carboxyl terminus of VP1 of inv2408. The VP1 polypeptide carrying this carboxyl-terminal portion of large T could overcome the defect of dlA2459. This indicates that the carboxyl terminus of large T antigen is a separate and separable functional domain.

A detailed genetic analysis of the late complementation groups of simian virus 40

A simple mixed-plaque assay procedure for determining complementation between pairs of SV40 mutants is described. Since the data obtained can be quantified with respect to both the relative numbers and sizes of plaques, this method is less likely than other complementation assay procedures to yield false-positive results and gives some indication as to the efficiency of the complementation. This quantitative assay procedure, which works with both viral DNA and virions, was used to examine the complementation properties of a variety of late region temperature-sensitive and deletion mutants of SV40. Conclusions reached from these studies included (i) the complementation observed between tsB and tsC mutants is definitely intragenic; (ii) D mutants define a true complementation group; (iii) sequences within the last 68 carboxyl-terminal amino acids of VP-3 are necessary for expression of the D function; and (iv) when linked to the last 19 carboxyl-terminal amino acids of VP-1, the first 136 amino-terminal amino acids of VP-2 are sufficient for expression of the E function. Lastly, the collection of deletion mutants described here may be useful in identifying both structural and regulatory functions of the virion proteins and in analyzing some aspects of viral mRNA biogenesis.

A splice junction deletion deficient in the transport of RNA does not polyadenylate nuclear RNA

A late region deletion mutant of simian virus 40 (dl5) was previously shown to be deficient in the transport of nuclear RNA. This is a splice junction deletion that has lost the 3' end of an RNA leader, an intervening sequence, and the 5' end of the splice acceptor site on the body of the mRNA. In this report, we analyzed the steady-state structure of the untransported nuclear RNA. The 5' ends of this RNA are heterogeneous but contain a prominent 5' end at the normal position (nucleotide 325) in addition to several other prominent 5' ends not seen in wild-type RNA. The 3' end of this RNA does not occur at the usual position (nucleotide 2674) of polyadenylation; instead, this RNA is non-polyadenylated, with the 3' end occurring either downstream or upstream of the normal position.

Simian virus 40 early- and late-region promoter functions are enhanced by the 72-base-pair repeat inserted at distant locations and inverted orientations

Tandemly repeated 72-base-pair (bp) segments located between nucleotides 107 and 250 of the simian virus 40 genome are essential for early region transcription. The functional requirement for the 72-bp repeat was supplied even when that segment was translocated to several locations distant from, and in different orientation, relative to, the promoter. Regardless of the position of the 72-bp enhancer segment, transcription was initiated at the same locations as with the normal promoter. Translocation of the 72-bp repeat segment to other sites in the genome resulted in the appearance of DNase I hypersensitivity at that site in the intranuclear viral minichromosomes. One of the translocations which did not produce enhancement of early- and late-region expression also failed to create a DNase I-hypersensitive site at the translocated 72-bp segment.

A splice junction deletion deficient in the transport of RNA does not polyadenylate nuclear RNA

A late region deletion mutant of simian virus 40 (dl5) was previously shown to be deficient in the transport of nuclear RNA. This is a splice junction deletion that has lost the 3' end of an RNA leader, an intervening sequence, and the 5' end of the splice acceptor site on the body of the mRNA. In this report, we analyzed the steady-state structure of the untransported nuclear RNA. The 5' ends of this RNA are heterogeneous but contain a prominent 5' end at the normal position (nucleotide 325) in addition to several other prominent 5' ends not seen in wild-type RNA. The 3' end of this RNA does not occur at the usual position (nucleotide 2674) of polyadenylation; instead, this RNA is non-polyadenylated, with the 3' end occurring either downstream or upstream of the normal position.

Preparation of a "functional library" of African green monkey DNA fragments which substitute for the processing/polyadenylation signal in the herpes simplex virus type 1 thymidine kinase gene

Fragments of African green monkey (Cercopithecus aethiops) DNA (3.5 to 18.0 kilobases) were inserted downstream from the thymidine kinase (TK, tk) coding region in pTK206/SV010, a gene construct which lacks both copies of the hexanucleotide 5'-AATAAA-3' and contains a simian virus 40 origin of replication, allowing it to replicate in Cos-1 cells. No polyadenylated tk mRNA was detected in Cos-1 cells transfected by pTK206/SV010. The ability of simian DNA fragments to restore tk gene expression was examined by measuring the incorporation of [125I]iododeoxycytidine into DNA in Cos-1 cells transfected by pTK206/SV010 insertion derivatives. tk gene expression was restored by the insertion in 56 of the 67 plasmids analyzed, and the level of expression equaled or exceeded that obtained with the wild-type tk gene in 30 of these. In all plasmids examined that showed restoration of tk gene expression, polyadenylated tk mRNA of discrete size was detected. The sizes of these tk mRNAs were consistent with the existence of processing and polyadenylation signals within the inserted DNA fragments. The frequency with which inserted fragments restored tk gene expression suggests that the minimal signal for processing and polyadenylation is a hexanucleotide (AAUAAA or a similar sequence). LTK- cells were biochemically transformed to TK+ with representative insertion constructs. pTK206/SV010 transformed LTK- cells at a very low frequency; the frequency of transformation with insertion derivatives was 40 to 12,000 times higher.

Simian virus 40 early- and late-region promoter functions are enhanced by the 72-base-pair repeat inserted at distant locations and inverted orientations

Tandemly repeated 72-base-pair (bp) segments located between nucleotides 107 and 250 of the simian virus 40 genome are essential for early region transcription. The functional requirement for the 72-bp repeat was supplied even when that segment was translocated to several locations distant from, and in different orientation, relative to, the promoter. Regardless of the position of the 72-bp enhancer segment, transcription was initiated at the same locations as with the normal promoter. Translocation of the 72-bp repeat segment to other sites in the genome resulted in the appearance of DNase I hypersensitivity at that site in the intranuclear viral minichromosomes. One of the translocations which did not produce enhancement of early- and late-region expression also failed to create a DNase I-hypersensitive site at the translocated 72-bp segment.

Analysis in Cos-1 cells of processing and polyadenylation signals by using derivatives of the herpes simplex virus type 1 thymidine kinase gene

Bal31 nuclease was used to resect the herpes simplex virus type 1 thymidine kinase (tk) gene from its 3' end, and a plasmid, pTK206, was isolated that lacked the processing and polyadenylation signals normally found at the 3' end of the gene. The wild-type gene, pTK2, and pTK206 were each transferred to pSV010, a plasmid containing the simian virus 40 (SV40) origin of DNA replication, allowing replication and analysis of the patterns of transcription in Cos-1 cells. Fragments of DNA containing processing and polyadenylation signals from SV40 and polyoma virus were inserted into the 3' end of the resected tk gene, pTK206. We found that tk gene expression requires a processing and polyadenylation signal, that signals from SV40 and polyoma virus could substitute for the herpes simplex virus tk signal, and that considerable differences in the levels of tk mRNA were present in Cos-1 cells transfected by these gene constructs. In addition, tk gene expression was restored to a low level after the insertion of an 88-base-pair fragment from the middle of the SV40 early region. Processing and polyadenylation do not occur in the vicinity of this fragment in SV40, even though it contains the hexanucleotide 5'-AAUAAA-3'.

Preparation of a "functional library" of African green monkey DNA fragments which substitute for the processing/polyadenylation signal in the herpes simplex virus type 1 thymidine kinase gene

Fragments of African green monkey (Cercopithecus aethiops) DNA (3.5 to 18.0 kilobases) were inserted downstream from the thymidine kinase (TK, tk) coding region in pTK206/SV010, a gene construct which lacks both copies of the hexanucleotide 5'-AATAAA-3' and contains a simian virus 40 origin of replication, allowing it to replicate in Cos-1 cells. No polyadenylated tk mRNA was detected in Cos-1 cells transfected by pTK206/SV010. The ability of simian DNA fragments to restore tk gene expression was examined by measuring the incorporation of [125I]iododeoxycytidine into DNA in Cos-1 cells transfected by pTK206/SV010 insertion derivatives. tk gene expression was restored by the insertion in 56 of the 67 plasmids analyzed, and the level of expression equaled or exceeded that obtained with the wild-type tk gene in 30 of these. In all plasmids examined that showed restoration of tk gene expression, polyadenylated tk mRNA of discrete size was detected. The sizes of these tk mRNAs were consistent with the existence of processing and polyadenylation signals within the inserted DNA fragments. The frequency with which inserted fragments restored tk gene expression suggests that the minimal signal for processing and polyadenylation is a hexanucleotide (AAUAAA or a similar sequence). LTK- cells were biochemically transformed to TK+ with representative insertion constructs. pTK206/SV010 transformed LTK- cells at a very low frequency; the frequency of transformation with insertion derivatives was 40 to 12,000 times higher.

Analysis in Cos-1 cells of processing and polyadenylation signals by using derivatives of the herpes simplex virus type 1 thymidine kinase gene

Bal31 nuclease was used to resect the herpes simplex virus type 1 thymidine kinase (tk) gene from its 3' end, and a plasmid, pTK206, was isolated that lacked the processing and polyadenylation signals normally found at the 3' end of the gene. The wild-type gene, pTK2, and pTK206 were each transferred to pSV010, a plasmid containing the simian virus 40 (SV40) origin of DNA replication, allowing replication and analysis of the patterns of transcription in Cos-1 cells. Fragments of DNA containing processing and polyadenylation signals from SV40 and polyoma virus were inserted into the 3' end of the resected tk gene, pTK206. We found that tk gene expression requires a processing and polyadenylation signal, that signals from SV40 and polyoma virus could substitute for the herpes simplex virus tk signal, and that considerable differences in the levels of tk mRNA were present in Cos-1 cells transfected by these gene constructs. In addition, tk gene expression was restored to a low level after the insertion of an 88-base-pair fragment from the middle of the SV40 early region. Processing and polyadenylation do not occur in the vicinity of this fragment in SV40, even though it contains the hexanucleotide 5'-AAUAAA-3'.