Properties of an SV40-transformed African green monkey kidney (BSC-1) cell line.

Abstract

AbstractAn SV40‐transformed BSC‐1 cell line (BSC‐SV Cl 1.1), that had been cloned twice under SV40 antiserum, sporadically produced small amounts of SV‐40 virus spontaneously. Most of the cells contained a defective virus genome, while some contained a non‐defective virus genome which was not readily reactivated. The BSC‐SV Cl 1.1 cell line was susceptible to superinfection by SV40 DNA and virus, but its capacity to support SV40 replication was consistently lower than that of infected BSC‐1 cells. This appeared to be a property of the individual cells. The ability of individual cells to initiate SV40 replication upon superinfection may depend on the multiplicity of infection. Following fusion with SV40‐transformed hamster cells containing a nondefective virus genome (TSV‐5 Cl 2), the BSC‐SV Cl 1.1 cells activated the production of SV40 virions in TSV‐5 Cl2 cells. The yield of virus depended on the cell line or subclone used.