Temperature-sensitive Mutant Of Simian Virus Research Articles

Involvement of Stathmin in Proliferation and Differentiation of Immortalized Human Endometrial Stromal Cells

Uterine endometrial stromal cells differentiate into decidual cells during the late secretory phase of the menstrual cycle and pregnancy. However, the biochemical mechanisms of decidualization have yet to be definitively elucidated. In the present study, we transfected primary human endometrial stromal cell with a temperature-sensitive mutant of simian virus 40 large T antigen and thereby established an immortalized stromal cell line (EtsT) in order to examine the role of stathmin, a cytosolic phosphoprotein that regulates microtubule dynamics, in stromal cell differentiation. When treated with the decidual stimulus dibutyryl-cAMP (db-cAMP) or forskolin, the fibroblastic cell-shaped EtsT cells transformed into large- and round-shaped cells and secreted large amounts of the decidual markers prolactin (PRL) and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1). Analysis of the stathmin protein levels in the db-cAMP- and forskolin-treated EtsT cells revealed that the total and phosphorylated protein levels dropped as decidualization progressed. Suppression of stathmin expression by transfection with small interfering RNA (siRNA) suppressed EtsT cell proliferation. It also abolished db-cAMP-induced PRL and IGFBP-1 mRNA expression and protein secretion. Thus, stathmin expression can be considered an integral factor regulating the initial stage of the process of human endometrial stromal cell differentiation.

Cell growth and differentiation of a novel mouse Ito (fat-storing) cell line transformed by a temperature-sensitive mutant of simian virus 40.

A novel mouse Ito (fat-storing) cell line (A640-IS) was established by transformation with a temperature-sensitive mutant of simian virus 40 (SV40) and the relationships between the expression of SV40 large T antigen and the growth, differentiation, and functions of A640-IS cells were investigated. A640-IS cells expressed large T antigen when cultured at 33 degrees C. At this temperature, the cells grew actively, assumed a fibroblastic shape, and showed few Ito cell characteristics. In contrast, when large T-antigen expression was inhibited by culture at 39 degrees C, the cells did not grow but differentiated into Ito cells as assessed by both morphological and functional characteristics. Expression of the transcription factor SCL (stem cell leukemia), which plays a role in the development and differentiation of blood cells, was observed at both 33 degrees C and 39 degrees C, although expression was greater at 33 degrees C. Therefore, opposite patterns of cell growth and the functions of differentiated cells occurred at 33 degrees C and 39 degrees C in this novel Ito cell line. Transforming growth factor beta1 stimulated A640-IS cells to produce fibronectin, collagen type III, and laminin. This unique Ito cell line provides a useful model to address important questions regarding the nature of these cells.

Establishment and characteristics of a practical and useful astrocyte cell line transformed by a temperature-sensitive mutant of simian virus 40

A practical mouse astrocyte cell line (A640-IG) was established by transformation with a temperature-sensitive mutant of simian virus 40 (SV40) and the relationship between the function of SV40 large T antigen and the growth and differentiation of A640-IG cells, which are most clearly dependent on temperature that ever established, was reported. A640-IG cells proliferated actively with expression of large T antigen when they were cultured at 33°C. They had a fibroblast-like appearance, and displayed faint immunoreactivity with an antibody against glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). However, when large T antigen expression ceased at 39°C, the cells did not grow actively and differentiated into astrocytes as demonstrated by both their morphological and immunohistochemical characteristics. Differentiation into astrocytes was more obvious when the cells were plated on bacteriological dishes in high density. Western blotting confirmed immunohistochemical observations. A640-IG cells thus showed contrasting behaviour in terms of cell growth and differentiation depending on the temperature. This unique and practical astrocyte cell line is a useful model for investigating the mechanisms of astrocyte growth and differentiation.

Commitment to apoptosis is associated with changes in mitochondrial biogenesis and activity in cell lines conditionally immortalized with simian virus 40.

Rodent embryo cells immortalized with temperature-sensitive mutants of simian virus 40 large tumor (T) antigen have a proliferative potential that depends on temperature. At the restrictive temperature, heat-inactivation of large T antigen causes p53 release, growth arrest, and cell death. Morphological and molecular analysis indicate that the induced cell death corresponds to apoptosis. Flow cytometric analysis using a combination of forward light scatter and side scatter allows a discrimination of cells committed to apoptosis within the whole population. These cells display a reduction in cell size and a higher cellular density, confirming the apoptotic nature of the cell death. When cells exhibiting the morphological features of apoptosis were stained with a fluorescent probe of the mitochondrial membrane potential, a decreased accumulation of the dye was recorded. Measures of cellular respiration, performed with whole-cell populations, showed that the lower mitochondrial membrane potential (delta psi m) correlates, as expected, with an uncoupling of electron transport from ATP production and is linked to the induction of apoptosis. We also show that this decrease in delta psi m is associated with a decrease in the rate of mitochondrial translation. These events are detected at early stages of the apoptotic process, when most of the cells are not irreversibly committed to death, suggesting that mitochondria could be a primary target during apoptosis.

Lysosomal glycosphingolipid storage in chloroquine-induced alpha-galactosidase-deficient human endothelial cells with transformation by simian virus 40: in vitro model of Fabry disease.

Human umbilical venous endothelial cells were transformed with a temperature-sensitive mutant of simian virus 40, tsA640, and a cell line, subcultured for over 20 serial passages, was established at a temperature permissive for the virus. Treatment of transformed endothelium with 3 micrograms/ml chloroquine caused a specific reduction of alpha-galactosidase activity, without cell injury, and revealed several electron-dense materials surrounded by single unit membranes. Crystalline lamellae in lysosomes with a periodicity of 6.5 nm, which are typically seen in various tissues in Fabry disease, were produced in the presence of a glycosphingolipid mixture. These cells should be useful for in vitro pathophysiological studies on Fabry endothelium.

Localization of small RNAs hybridizable to a B2 clone in the nuclear fraction of mouse cell lines

An RNA polymerase III transcript, 7SK nuclear RNA, was found to bear sequence homology to the B2 class of highly repeated elements in the mouse genome. Northern blot hybridizations between the small RNAs and two B2 clones showed that only one of them (p49C8) hybridized to 7SK RNA. Both clones, however, hybridized to 4.5SI RNA as well as to a third class of nuclear RNA transcripts around 170 nucleotides long, whose levels were found to be greatly increased upon induction of transformation in a mouse 3T3 cell line transformed with a temperature-sensitive mutant of simian virus 40.

Stabilization of the large T protein in temperature-independent (type A) FR 3T3 rat cells transformed with the simian virus 40 tsA30 mutant.

The stabilities of in vivo [35S]methionine-labeled large T and small t proteins, synthesized in temperature-sensitive (type N) and temperature-insensitive (type A) FR 3T3 rat cells transformed by an early temperature-sensitive mutant of simian virus 40 (SV40), tsA30, were analyzed at the permissive and restrictive temperatures. The two polypeptides, detected in greatly reduced amounts in cells of the N type at the restrictive temperature, were also unstable at the permissive temperature. However, both were made in similar amounts and were apparently stable in cells of the A type, irrespective of the temperature. The structures of the viral RNAs present at the permissive temperature were analyzed for transformants representative of each type, and containing a single integration of viral DNA. The two cell lines synthesized transcripts identical to the large T and small t mRNAs identified in SV40-infected monkey cells. Similar amounts of viral RNA were found in A and N transformants in active growth at the permissive and restrictive temperatures, which argued against a control at a transcriptional level. Assay of a defined function of the protein, namely, the binding of nucleotide detected by affinity labeling with periodate-oxidized [alpha-32P]ATP, clearly showed that the large T proteins from both types of transformants exhibited, at least for that particular biochemical function, the same in vitro temperature sensitivity. In transformants of the A type only could a reduced binding activity be detected in extracts from cells grown at the restrictive temperature. Thus, the temperature-independent behavior of the A transformants may result from an in vivo partial stabilization of the newly synthesized large T protein, probably through interaction with a cellular component(s).

Persistent infections of green monkey kidney cells initiated with temperature-sensitive mutants of simian virus 40

An early SV40 temperature-sensitive ( ts) mutant, tsA58, and a late mutant, tsB11, each expressed homotypie interference in CV-1 cells coinfected with WT. Interference required the functional activities of the mutant genomes and resulted from a competitive interaction between the mutants and WT. Another late mutant, tsD101 did not display interference activity. Nevertheless, each of the is mutants promoted the survival of CV-1 cells coinfected with WT at 37° and, consequently, facilitated the establishment of persistent infections. Each of the mutants was also more able than WT to establish persistent infections under conditions of single infection. Only a few percent of the cells in these persistent infections produced the SV40 T or V antigens and clonal isolates from these systems contained both antigen-producing and nonproducing cells. These systems were resistant to superinfection with WT SV40 but were completely susceptible to vesicular stomatitis virus. There was a rapid selection for ts + virus in the persistent infections initiated by mixed infection with the ts mutants and WT. The proportion of ts + virus also increased, although somewhat more slowly, in the systems initiated by infection with the mutants alone. Defective interfering (DI) particles were detected in some stocks by yield reduction assays. Many viral genomes in stocks displaying DI particle activity contained multiple BglI cleavage sites, indicating that they possess reiterations of the origin for DNA replication.

Altered restriction endonuclease cleavage pattern of simian virus 40 DNA

Three different groups of temperature-sensitive mutants of simian virus 40, isolated and characterized by Chou and Martin (J. Virol. 13:1101--1109, 1974), have been analyzed by using restriction endonucleases. Differences between the restriction endonuclease cleavage pattern of these mutants and that of the standard simian virus 40 strain have been mapped. These include the following observations: (i) tsD202 carries a defective HaeIII cleavage site at position 0.9 map units; (ii) tsB204 exhibits a defective HaIII site at position 0.21 and a defective HinIII site at 0.655 map units, and (iii) tsC219 carries a new HinIII site at position 0.15. We have isolated a few wild-type revertants from each of the temperature-sensitive mutant strains; each displays the endonuclease cleavage pattern of its parental temperature-sensitive strain.

Interference in SV40 DNA infections: A possible basis for cellular competence

At the restrictive temperature, DNA from temperature-sensitive mutants of simian virus 40 (SV40) (in the A or B/C genes) interferes with plaque formation by wild-type SV40 DNA. This interference occurs early in the first cycle of infection. Nonhomologous DNA also can interfere with SV40 DNA infection. The mode of interference by ts SV40 DNAs and nonhomologous DNAs appears to be the same. In conjunction with other observations the interference by nonhomologous DNA and the similarity of interference by tsA DNA and tsB DNA suggest that interference does not require expression of any viral gene product. Since interference is observed even when the infections by interfering DNA and wild-type DNA are separated in time, interference must occur after the DNAs interact with cells. Furthermore, the different efficiencies with which structurally similar DNAs (SV40, PM2 and φX174 replicative form) interfere indicate that interference depends at least in part on nucleotide sequence. Those two observations suggest that interference is an intracellular, perhaps nuclear, phenomenon. The possible relevance of this interference phenomenon to observations on cellular competence for SV40 DNA infections is discussed.

Cytogenetic Studies of a Simian Virus 40 Temperature-Sensitive Mutant-Transformed Chinese Hamster Cell Clone at the Permissive and Nonpermissive Temperature<xref ref-type="fn" rid="FN1">2</xref>

A clone of Chinese hamster embryo cells transformed by tsA58, the temperature-sensitive mutant of simian virus 40, was analyzed for chromosome abnormalities at the permissive temperature (37 degrees C) and nonpermissive temperature (40.5 degrees C). Trypsin-Giemsa-banded metaphases were analyzed 1 week after the temperature shift. The metaphases from cells at both temperatures were pseudodiploid, with numerous chromosome changes primarily affecting chromosomes no. 1 and 2. Other chromosomes (no. 6, 11, and the X) were also frequently involved. A marker chromosome, LM, was present in 35% of the cells at 40.5 degrees C.

Simian virus 40 A gene function: DNA content analysis of Chinese hamster cells transformed by an early temperature-sensitive virus mutant.

Replication of two Chinese hamster embryo cell lines transformed by an early temperature-sensitive mutant of simian virus 40, tsA58, was examined by flow microfluorometry and autoradiography of [3H]thymidine-labeled cells in order to determine whether transformed cell DNA synthesis is initiated by the virus A gene. At the permissive temperature (37 degrees), cells transformed by the mutant were like the wild-type virus transformants in appearance, colony-forming ability, high saturation density, and rapid replication. At the nonpermissive temperature (40.5 degrees), the tsA58 transformed cells resembled normal embryo fibroblasts and seem to return to normal growth patterns. Although both mutant transformed cell lines at 40.5 degrees appeared to cease growth at low saturation density, the cells did not enter a resting state, but continued to replicate. The cultures were maintained at low densities by a balance among cell replication, cell death, and sloughing of dead cells into the supernatant. These results suggest that the simian virus 40 A gene function effected by the tsA58 mutation does not prevent Chinese hamster embryo transformed cells from entering a resting state, although the gene may control other phenotypic characteristics of transformation.

Temperature-Sensitive Mutants of Simian Virus 40

Sixteen temperature-sensitive mutants of simian virus 40 were isolated after treatment of wild-type virus with UV light, nitrous acid, or nitrosoguanidine. All of the mutants were assigned to the B complementation group on the basis of quantitative complementation analyses. Characterization of several representative mutants revealed that under restrictive conditions such mutants produced immunologically identifiable tumor and viral capsid antigens, induced the synthesis of cellular DNA, and replicated infectious viral DNA. In addition, mutant particles produced at 33 degrees were more heat-labile than wild-type virus. This collection of mutants will be useful in an analysis of SV40 particle morphogenesis.

Transformation of Human Cells by Temperature-Sensitive Mutants of Simian Virus 40

Conditions necessary for the establishment and maintenance of transformation of human cells by wild type and temperature-sensitive mutants of SV40 were examined. For both early and late mutants, the frequency of transformation was found to be up to 5-fold higher, and virus yield 100-fold lower, at 39 degrees than at 33 degrees. No such effect was observed with the wild type virus under the same conditions. This observation is apparently at variance with previously published work, but may be explained by the semipermissive nature of the cells that we used. Increasing the temperature to 40.5 degrees caused cells transformed by the early mutant, tsA30, to lose T-antigen as detectable by staining, and also to lose the ability to grow to high density, while it produced no effect on cells transformed by wild type virus.

Biology of simian virus 40 (SV40) transplantation antigen (TrAg): II. Isolation and characterization of additional temperature-sensitive mutants of SV40

Fourteen independent temperature-sensitive mutants of simian virus (SV40) were isolated following nitrous acid or hydroxylamine mutagenesis. Three mutants were assigned to the A group and seven to the BC group on the basis of standard qualitative and quantitative complementation assays. Three other mutants did not complement mutants of any complementation group well under standard conditions nor was delayed complementation observed in quantitative assays. However, these mutants were shown to complement members of the A and BC complementation groups but not members of the D group when the qualitative complementation test was modified by allowing the parental virions to uncoat at permissive temperature prior to incubation at 41°. The assignment of these mutants to the D group was substantiated by demonstrating the wild-type infectivity of DNA extracted from cells infected at 33° for growth at 41°. Thirteen of the mutants were tested for the production of tumor (T), capsid (C), virion (V), and major coat protein (VP1) antigens at permissive and nonpermissive temperature by immunofluorescence assays along with mutants which have been described previously by others for comparison. The temperature-sensitive ( ts) mutants isolated in this study produced fully immunoreactive T antigen at both temperatures. None of the tsA mutants produced C, VPl, or V antigens at elevated temperature. The BC mutants isolated in this study all produced T antigen at 41°. These late mutants demonstrated two patterns of expression of virion antigens. One group synthesized C, V, and VP1 at 41° and were indistinguishable from wild type on the basis of antigenic phenotype. A second group showed cytoplasmic and nucleolar fluorescence for C and VPl antigens at the nonpermissive temperature similar to that observed for tsBCll previously. Mutants in this group did not produce V antigen at high temperature.

Morphological phenotype of temperature-sensitive mutants of simian virus 40 in productive infection

Temperature-sensitive mutants of simian virus 40 from the complementation groups I (viral-DNA positive and V-antigen positive), II (viral-DNA positive and V-antigen negative), and III (viral-DNA negative and V-antigen negative) were examined by electron microscopy for their ability to synthesize physical virus particles at the nonpermissive temperature (40°) in productive infection. Examinations of thin sections of infected cells revealed that all the group I mutants studied were not temperature-sensitive for the synthesis of physical virus particles in terms of the proportion of cells synthesizing virions, approximate number and mode of arrangement of virions in the virus-producing cells, and morphology of virions present in the cells. Representative mutants of the complementation groups II and III were temperature-sensitive for the synthesis of virions or virion-related structures. The virus particles of the group I mutants produced at 40°, in contrast to those produced at the permissive temperature (33°), were readily destroyed after lysing the cells by repeated freezing and thawing or by sonication, but the lysate still retained V antigen, the amount of which was similar to that in lysates from the mutant-infected cells at 33° and from wild-type-infected cells at 33 and 40°. Temperature-shift experiments suggested that: (1) The event that is temperature sensitive in a group I mutant infection occurs about the time of the appearance of new infectious virions, suggesting that the mutation affects the final stage of virus maturation; (2) the affected function of the group II mutant occurs at about 10 hr prior to the time of the appearance of new infectious virions at 33°, although the mutant employed may be regarded as a late mutant because of the heat lability of the virions produced at 33° and because viral DNA synthesis is normal at 40°; and (3) the group III mutant temperature presented suggest that the three genetically distinct groups of mutants represent three functionally distinct processes in the replicative cycle of simian virus 40.

Alterations in surface glycoproteins and level of sialyltransferase of cells transformed by a temperature-sensitive mutant of simian virus 40.

Mouse cells transformed by a temperature-sensitive mutant of simian virus 40 belonging to complementation group A lost their ability to regulate cell growth when grown at the permissive temperature (35 degrees) but showed the low saturation density of cell growth at the restrictive temperature (39.5 degrees) that is characteristic of normal cells in vitro. Biochemical analysis of the membranes of cells grown under the restrictive and the permissive conditions demonstrated no qualitative temperature-dependent differences either in neutral glycolipids or in acidic glycolipids of the cells. Plasma membrane glycoproteins labeled with radioactive glucosamine showed significantly different patterns on both polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and electrofocusing. When the levels of glycoprotein glycosyltransferases of the cells were examined, the level of sialyltransferase (CMP-N-acetylneuraminytransferase,EC 2.4.99.1) of the cells grown at the restrictive temperature was low compared with that of cells grown at the permissive temperature. Our results indicate that the level of sialyltransferase is under the control of the gene A function of simian virus 40 and consequently is related to alterations in the cell surface glycoproteins.

Simian virus 40 mutants carrying two temperature-sensitive mutations

Five temperature-sensitive mutants of simian virus 40 containing two temperature-sensitive mutations were isolated. The double mutant of the A and D complementation groups, like the D mutants, failed to complement by conventional complementation analysis and did not induce host DNA synthesis at 40 degrees C. However, under conditions that suppressed the D defect, the A:D double mutant expressed only the A defect. Thus, viral DNA replication dropped rapidly after this mutant was shifted from permissive to restrictive temperatures. The A:D double mutant failed to transfrom at the restrictive temperature when subconfluent Chinese hamster lung monolayers were used. Double mutants of A:B, A:C, and A:BC complementation groups, like their A parent, were defective in viral DNA replication, in the induction of host DNA synthesis and in the transformation of secondary Chinese hamster lung cells at the nonpermissive temperature.

Isolation and characterization of a heat-inducible simian virus 40 mutant

We have isolated a new type of temperature-sensitive mutant of simian virus 40 (SV40) that is capable of productive infection in permissive cells but not of maintenance of viral DNA integration in transformed cells at the conditional temperature. Virus development is induced when cells transformed by this mutant are shifted to temperatures above 39 degrees C, but is not induced below this temperature. The plaque-purified, temperature-sensitive mutant virus confers heat inducibility to new host cells, indicating that the conditional function is a property of the viral genome. Unlike previously described temperature-sensitive SV40 mutants, in (ts)-1501 is capable of productive infection in permissive cells at the conditional temperature. The morphology, growth, and oncogenicity of in (ts)-1501-transformed cells at 37 degrees C are similar to those of cell lines transformed by wild-type SV40. HK10-c2(in(ts)-1501), a cloned cell line, transformed at 37 degrees C by the mutant virus, exhibits a transient increase in DNA synthesis before cell death at the conditional temperature. Many properties of in(ts)-1501 are analogous to those of the heat-inducible mutants of bacteriophages in which a heat-inactivated protein is responsible for the stable integration of the prophage in the bacterial chromosome.

Characterization of simian cells tranformed by temperature-sensitive mutants of simian virus 40

Seven lines derived from primary African green monkey kidney cells, which had survived lytic infection by wild-type simian virus 40 (SV40) or temperature-sensitive mutants belonging to the A and B complementation groups, were established. These cultures synthesize SV40 tumor (T) antigen constitutively and have been passaged more than 60 times in vitro. The cells released small amounts of virus even at high passage levels but eventually became negative for the spontaneous release of virus. Virus rescued from such "nonproducer" cells by the transfection technique exhibited the growth properties of the original inoculum virus. Four of the cell lines were tested for the presence of altered growth patterns commonly associated with SV40-induced transformation. Although each of the cell lines was greater than 99% positive for T antigen, none of the cultures could be distinguished from primary or stable lines of normal simian cells on the basis of morphology, saturation density in high or low serum concentrations, colony formation on plastic or in soft agar, hexose transport, or concanavalin A agglutinability. However, the cells could be distinguished from the parental green monkey kidney cells by a prolonged life span, the presence of T antigen, a resistance to the replication of superinfecting SV40 virus or SV40 viral DNA, and, with three of the four lines, an ability to complement the growth of human adenovirus type 7. These properties were expressed independent of the temperature of incubation. These results indicate that the presence of an immunologically reactive SV40 T antigen is not sufficient to ensure induction of phenotypic transformation and suggest that a specific interaction between viral and cellular genes and/or gene products may be a necessary requirement.