Efficiency and fidelity of full-site integration reactions using recombinant simian immunodeficiency virus integrase.

Full-site integration by recombinant wild-type and mutant simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) integrase (IN) was investigated with linear retrovirus-like DNA (469 bp) as a donor substrate and circular DNA (2,867 bp) as a target substrate. Under optimized conditions, recombinant SIV IN produced donor-target products consistent with full-site (two donor ends) and half-site (one donor end) reactions with equivalent frequency. Restriction enzyme analysis of the 3.8-kbp full-site reaction products confirmed the concerted insertion of two termini from separate donors into a single target molecule. Donor ends carrying the viral U5 termini were preferred over U3 termini for producing both half-site and full-site products. Bacterial genetic selection was used to isolate individual donor-target recombinants, and the donor-target junctions of the cloned products were characterized by sequencing. Analysis of 149 recombinants demonstrated approximately 84% fidelity for the appropriate simian retrovirus 5-bp host duplication. As seen previously in similar reactions with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) IN from lysed virions, approximately 8% of the donor-target recombinants generated with recombinant SIV IN incurred specific 17- to 18- or 27- to 29-bp deletions. The efficiency and fidelity of the full-site integration reaction mediated by the purified, recombinant SIV IN is comparable to that of HIV-1 IN from virions. These observations suggest that a purified recombinant lentivirus IN is itself sufficient to recapitulate the full-site integration process.

Host site selection for concerted integration by human immunodeficiency virus type-1 virions in vitro.

Host site selection for full-site integration by human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) intergrase (IN) from nonionic detergent-lysed virions was investigated. Linear retrovirus-like DNA (469 bp) possessing 3' OH recessed long terminal repeat termini was efficiently inserted by a bimolecular donor reaction into a supercoiled DNA target (2867 bp), producing the HIV-1 5-bp host site duplication. Sequence data were analyzed from 193 donor-target recombinants obtained from the linear 3.8-kb DNA product. The selection of host target sites appeared randomly distributed and was independent of lysis and assay conditions. The fidelity of the 5-bp duplications in comparison to other size duplications was highest (94%) with high-salt (300 mM NaCl) lysis of the virions and 60 mM NaCl for strand transfer using Mg2+ as the divalent cation. Base sequence analysis demonstrated some biases in the 5-bp duplications at the sites of strand transfer and at the immediate host sequences surrounding the duplications. In addition to the observed duplications, approximately 30% of the recombinants isolated from the linear 3.8-kb DNA product contained specific and repetitive small-size deletions. No deletions smaller that 17 bp were observed and the distance between the deletion sets had a periodicity of approximately 10 bp. The mechanisms involved in how HIV-1 IN produces the 5-bp duplications and the repetitive host site deletions are discussed.

Equivalent inhibition of half-site and full-site retroviral strand transfer reactions by structurally diverse compounds.

In vitro assay systems which use recombinant retroviral integrase (IN) and short DNA oligonucleotides fail to recapitulate the full-site integration reaction as it is known to occur in vivo. The relevance of using such circumscribed in vitro assays to define inhibitors of retroviral integration has not been formerly demonstrated. Therefore, we analyzed a series of structurally diverse inhibitors with respect to inhibition of both half-site and full-site strand transfer reactions with either recombinant or virion-produced IN. Half-site and full-site reactions catalyzed by avian myeloblastosis virus and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) IN from virions are shown to be equivalently sensitive to inhibition by compounds which inhibit half-site reactions catalyzed by the recombinant HIV-1 IN. These studies therefore support the utility of using in vitro assays employing either recombinant or virion-derived IN to identify inhibitors of integration.

Concerted integration of retrovirus-like DNA by human immunodeficiency virus type 1 integrase.

The integration of linear retrovirus DNA by the viral integrase (IN) into the host chromosome occurs by a concerted mechanism (full-site reaction). IN purified from avian myeloblastosis virus and using retrovirus-like DNA restriction fragments (487 bp in length) as donors and circular DNA (pGEM-3) as the target can efficiently catalyze that reaction. Nonionic detergent lysates of purified human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) virions were also capable of catalyzing the concerted integration reaction. The donor substrates were restriction fragments (469 bp) containing either U3-U5 (H-2 donor) or U5-U5 (H-5 donor) long terminal repeat sequences at their ends. As was shown previously with bacterially expressed HIV-1 IN, the U5 terminus of H-2 was preferred over the U3 terminus by virion-associated IN. The reactions involving two donors per circular target by HIV-1 IN preferred Mg2+ over Mn2+. Both metal ions were equally effective for the circular half-site reaction involving only one donor molecule. The linear 3.8-kbp recombinant products produced from two donor insertions into pGEM were genetically selected, and the donor-target junctions of individual recombinants were sequenced. A total of 55% of the 87 sequenced recombinants had host site duplications of between 5 and 7 bp, with the HIV-1 5-bp-specific duplication predominating. The other recombinants that migrated at the linear 3.8-kbp position were mainly small deletions that were grouped into four sets of 17, 27, 40, and 47 bp, each having a periodicity mimicking a turn of the DNA helix. Aprotic solvents (dimethyl sulfoxide and 1,4-dioxane) enhanced both the half-site and the linear 3.8-kbp strand transfer reactions which favored low-salt conditions (30 mM NaCl). The order of addition of the donor and target during preincubation with HIV-1 IN on ice did not affect the quantity of linear 3.8-kbp recombinants relative to that of the circular half-site products that were produced; only the quantity of donor-donor versus donor-target recombinants was affected. The presence of Mg2+ in the preincubation mixtures containing donor and target substrates was not necessary for the stability of preintegration complexes on ice or at 22 degrees C. Comparisons of the avian and HIV-1 concerted integration reactions are discussed.

Rat embryo fibroblast cells expressing human papillomavirus 1a genes exhibit altered growth properties and tumorigenicity.

Human papillomavirus 1a (HPV1a) induces benign tumors (papillomas or warts) in humans under natural conditions of infection but has not been found to replicate significantly in cell culture or in experimental animals. To establish model systems to study the oncogenic properties and expression of HPV genes, we established cell lines by cotransfecting the 3Y1 rat fibroblast cell line with HPV1a DNA constructs containing an intact early gene region and the Tn5 neomycin resistance gene. Most cell lines selected for expression of the neomycin resistance gene by treatment with the antibiotic G-418 contained viral DNA in a high-molecular-weight form. The growth characteristics of several cell lines containing high copy numbers of HPV1a DNA were studied further. They were shown to differ from the parental cell line and from G-418-resistant cell lines that did not incorporate viral DNA in the following properties: morphological alteration, increased cell density at confluence, growth in 0.5% serum, efficient anchorage-independent growth in soft agar, and rapid formation of tumors in nude mice. Those cell lines that possessed altered growth properties and tumorigenicity were found to express abundant quantities of polyadenylated virus-specific RNA species in the cytoplasm.

Posttranslational modification at the N terminus of the human adenovirus type 12 E1A 235R tumor antigen.

The adenovirus E1A transforming region, which encodes immortalization, partial cell transformation, and gene activation functions, expresses two early mRNAs, 13S and 12S. Multiple-T antigen species with different electrophoretic mobilities are formed from each mRNA, presumably by unknown posttranslational modifications. The adenovirus type 12 (Ad12) 13S and 12S mRNAs encode E1A T antigens of 266 and 235 amino acid residues (266R and 235R), respectively. To study possible posttranslational processing at the N and C termini and to distinguish between the Ad12 266R and 235R T antigens, we prepared antibodies targeted to synthetic peptides encoded at the common C (peptide 204) and N (peptide 202) termini of the 266R and 235R T antigens and at the unique internal domain of the 266R T antigen (peptide 206). The specificity of each anti-peptide antibody was confirmed by immunoprecipitation of the 266R and 235R T antigens produced in Escherichia coli. Immunoprecipitation analysis of the E1A T antigens synthesized in Ad12-infected KB cells revealed the following. Antibody to the common C terminus recognized three T antigens with apparent Mrs of 43,000, 42,000, and 39,000 (43K, 42K, and 39K). All three forms were phosphorylated and were present in both the nucleus and the cytoplasm. The 43K and 42K T antigens were rapidly synthesized during a 10-min pulse with [35S]methionine in Ad12-infected cells. The 43K T antigen had a half-life of 20 min, the 42K T antigen had a longer half-life of about 40 min, and the 39K T antigen became the predominant E1A T antigen. Antibodies to the unique region immunoprecipitated the 43K T antigen but not the 42K and 39K T antigens. Antibody to the N terminus immunoprecipitated the 43K and 42K T antigens but not the 39K T antigen, suggesting that the 39K T antigen possessed a modified N terminus. Partial N-terminal amino acid sequence analysis showed that the 43K and 42K T antigens contain methionine at residues 1 and 5, as predicted from the DNA sequence, whereas no methionine was released from the 39K T antigen during the first six cycles of Edman degradation. We propose that the short-lived 43K T antigen is the primary product of the 13S mRNA, the 266R T antigen; the somewhat more stable 42K T antigen is the primary product of the 12S mRNA, the 235R T antigen.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Biosynthesis of adenovirus type 2 i-leader protein.

The i-leader is a 440-base-pair sequence located between 21.8 and 23.0 map units on the adenovirus type 2 genome and is spliced between the second and third segments of the major tripartite leader in certain viral mRNA molecules. The i-leader contains an open translational reading frame for a hypothetical protein of Mr about 16,600, and a 16,000-Mr polypeptide (16K protein) has been translated in vitro on mRNA selected with DNA containing the i-leader (A. Virtanen, P. Aleström, H. Persson, M. G. Katze, and U. Pettersson, Nucleic Acids Res. 10:2539-2548, 1982). To determine whether the i-leader protein is synthesized during productive infection and to provide an immunological reagent to study the properties and functions of the i-leader protein, we prepared antipeptide antibodies directed to a 16-amino acid synthetic peptide which is encoded near the N terminus of the hypothetical i-leader protein and contains a high acidic amino acid and proline content. Antipeptide antibodies immunoprecipitated from extracts of adenovirus type 2-infected cells a major 16K protein that comigrated with a 16K protein translated in vitro. Partial N-terminal amino acid sequence analysis by Edman degradation of radiolabeled 16K antigen showed that methionine is present at residue 1 and leucine is present at residues 8 and 10, as predicted from the DNA sequence, establishing that the 16K protein precipitated by this antibody is indeed the i-leader protein. Thus, the i-leader protein is a prominent species that is synthesized during productive infection. The i-leader protein is often seen as a doublet on polyacrylamide gels, suggesting that either two related forms of i-leader protein are synthesized in infected cells or that a posttranslational modification occurs. Time course studies using immunoprecipitation analysis with antipeptide antibodies revealed that the E1A 289R T antigen and the E1B-19K (175R) T antigen are synthesized beginning at 2 to 3 and 4 to 5 h postinfection, respectively, whereas the i-leader protein is synthesized starting at about 8 h postinfection and continues unabated until at least 25 h postinfection. The i-leader protein is very stable, as determined by pulse-chase labeling experiments, and accumulates continuously from 8 to 25 h postinfection, as shown by immunoblot analysis. The synthesis of i-leader protein does not depend upon viral DNA replication. Thus, the i-leader protein is a viral gene product of unknown function and high stability that is made in large quantities at intermediate times of productive infection.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Identification of adenovirus 12-encoded E1A tumor antigens synthesized in infected and transformed mammalian cells and in Escherichia coli.

A 16-amino acid peptide, H2N-Arg-Glu-Gln-Thr-Val-Pro-Val-Asp-Leu-Ser-Val-Lys-Arg-Pro-Arg-Cys-COOH (peptide 204), targeted to the common C-terminus of human adenovirus 12 (Ad12) tumor antigens encoded by the E1A 13S mRNA and 12S mRNA, has been synthesized. Antibody prepared in rabbits against peptide 204 immunoprecipitated two proteins of apparent Mr 47,000 and 45,000 from extracts of [35S]methionine-labeled Ad12-early infected KB cells and a 47,000 protein from extracts of the Ad12-transformed hamster cell line, HE C19. Immunoprecipitation analysis of infected and transformed cells labeled with 32Pi showed that both major Ad12 E1A T antigens are phosphoproteins. Immunofluorescence microscopy of Ad12-early infected KB cells with antipeptide antibody showed the site of E1A protein concentration to be predominantly nuclear. E1A proteins were detected by immunofluorescence at 4 to 6 h postinfection and continued to increase until at least 18 h postinfection. Antipeptide 204 antibody was used to analyze the proteins synthesized in Escherichia coli cells transformed by plasmids containing cDNA copies of the Ad12 E1A 13S mRNA or 12S mRNA under the control of the tac promoter (D. Kimelman, L. A. Lucher, M. Green, K. H. Brackmann, J. S. Symington, and M. Ptashne, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., in press). A major protein of ca. 47,000 was immunoprecipitated from extracts of each transformed E. coli cell clone. Two-dimensional gel electrophoretic analysis of immunoprecipitates revealed that the T antigens synthesized in infected KB cells, transformed hamster cells, and transformed E. coli cells possess very similar molecular weights and acidic isoelectric points of 5.2 to 5.4.

Synthesis in Escherichia coli of human adenovirus type 12 transforming proteins encoded by early region 1A 13S mRNA and 12S mRNA.

Human adenovirus (Ad)-encoded early region 1A (E1A) tumor (T) antigens have been implicated in the positive regulation of viral early genes, the positive and negative regulation of some cellular genes, and cell immortalization and transformation. To further study the Ad E1A T antigens and to facilitate their purification, we have cloned cDNA copies of the Ad12 E1A 13S mRNA and 12S mRNA downstream of a hybrid Escherichia coli trp-lac (tac) promoter. Up to 8% of the protein synthesized in E. coli cells transformed by each of the two different Ad12 E1A cDNA constructs were immunoprecipitated as a Mr 47,000 protein by antibody to a synthetic peptide encoded in the Ad12 E1A DNA sequence. Both proteins produced in E. coli appear to be authentic and complete Ad12 E1A T antigens because they possess (i) the Ad12 E1A NH2-terminal amino acid sequence predicted from the DNA sequence; (ii) the Ad12 E1A COOH-terminal sequence, as shown by immunoprecipitation with anti-peptide antibody; and (iii) a molecular weight and an acidic isoelectric point similar to that of the E1A T antigens synthesized in Ad12-infected and transformed mammalian cells. The T antigens were purified to near homogeneity in yields of 100-200 micrograms per g wet weight of transformed E. coli cells.

Antibody directed to a synthetic peptide encoding the NH2-terminal 16 amino acids of the adenovirus type 2 E1B-53K tumor antigen recognizes the E1B-20K tumor antigen.

A peptide, H2N-Glu-Arg-Arg-Asn-Pro-Ser-Glu-Arg-Gly-Val-Pro-Ala-Gly-Phe-Ser-Gly-(Cys )COOH, containing the amino acid sequence at the NH2 terminus of the adenovirus type 2 (Ad2) E1B-coded large T antigen (E1B-53K) has been synthesized. Anti-peptide antibody was generated in rabbits and used to immunoprecipitate Ad T antigens from Ad2 early infected cell extracts. In addition to the expected E1B-53K T antigen, anti-peptide antibody precipitated the Ad2 E1B-20K T antigen that was previously shown to be related to E1B-53K (M. Green, K.H. Brackmann, M.A. Cartas, and T. Matsuo, J. Virol. 42, 30-41, 1982). Anti-peptide prepared against the COOH terminus of the E1B-53K T antigen or against the NH2 terminus of the E1B-19K T antigen did not precipitate the E1B-20K T antigen. These data suggest that the Ad2 E1B-20K T antigen initiates translation at nucleotide 2016 in reading frame 3, as does E1B-53K. The viral mRNA that encodes the E1B-20K T antigen has not been identified.

Human adenovirus 2 E1B-19K and E1B-53K tumor antigens: antipeptide antibodies targeted to the NH2 and COOH termini.

The human adenovirus 2 (Ad2) transforming region is located in the left 11.1% of the viral genome and encodes two early transcription units, E1A and E1B. Based on the amino acid sequence deduced from the Ad2 E1B DNA sequence (Gingeras et al., J. Biol. Chem. 257:13475-13491, 1982), we have prepared antibodies against synthetic peptides, 8 to 16 amino acids in length, encoded at the NH2 and COOH termini of the major E1B-19K and E1B-53K tumor antigens. The antipeptide antibodies immunoprecipitated the targeted E1B-19K or E1B-53K tumor antigens from extracts of Ad2-infected cells. The specificity of the peptide competition studies. Antipeptide antibodies directed to the NH2 and COOH termini immunoprecipitated the E1B-19K and E1B-53K tumor antigens from two Ad2-transformed rat cell lines, F17 and F4, providing evidence that identical tumor antigens are synthesized in Ad2-infected and Ad2-transformed cells. These results show that the E1B-19K and E1B-53K T antigens are not processed proteolytically at either the NH2 or COOH terminus. Our data provide strong evidence at the protein level that the E1B-19K and E1B-53K tumor antigens partially overlap in DNA sequence, with the E1B-19K initiating translation at the first ATG at nucleotide 1711 in translation reading frame 1 and the E1B-53K tumor antigen initiating translation at the second ATG at nucleotide 2016 in reading frame 3. This confirms the results of others on the N-terminal amino acid sequence of E1B-19K and theoretical deductions based on the DNA sequence. Our findings prove that the large E1B-53K T antigen initiates translation at the second ATG at nucleotide 2016 and not at equally plausible initiation codons located farther downstream at nucleotides 2202 and 2235. Thus, the E1B-53K T antigen is another example of a protein which initiates translation at an internal ATG rather than at the 5'-proximal ATG.

Introduction of cloned human papillomavirus genomes into mouse cells and expression at the RNA level.

The entire DNA genomes of five different human papillomaviruses (HPVs) were cloned into the BamHI site of pBR322 (HPV-1a, HPV-3, HPV-4, and HPV-9) or the EcoRI site of pBR325 (HPV-2), using as starting materials virus preparations isolated from papillomas of individual patients. Under stringent hybridization conditions (Tm-28 degrees), the five cloned HPVs exhibited less than 10% homology with one another. To establish model cell systems that may be useful for the identification of HPV genes and HPV gene products, mouse thymidine kinase negative (tk-) cells were cotransformed to the tk+ phenotype with the herpesvirus thymidine kinase gene and each of the five HPV cloned DNAs (either as intact recombinants or excised HPV DNA without removal of pBR). In most tk+ cell clones, a complex pattern of multiple high molecular weight inserts of HPV DNA were present in high copy number. Most of the HPV DNA sequences in the cotransformed cells were not present as unit-length episomal viral DNA. Analyses of the integration pattern (DNA blot) and RNA expression (RNA blot) of several HPV-1a and HPV-3 transformed cell lines suggest that some copies of the viral genome are integrated in a similar manner in different cell lines leading to the expression of identical viral RNA-containing species. Two of the cell lines transformed by the intact HPV-1a/pBR322 recombinant synthesized substantial amounts of four discrete viral polyadenylated cytoplasmic RNA species of 1.9, 3.2, 3.8, and 4.5 kb. Two cell lines transformed by the intact HPV-3/pBR322 recombinant synthesized 4-5 polyadenylated cytoplasmic viral RNA species ranging from 0.8 to 4.6 kb. The analysis shows that each viral RNA species appears to be a hybrid RNA molecule containing both HPV and pBR322 sequences. Based on these findings and the molecular organization of the HPV-1a genome (O. Danos, M. Katinka, and M. Yaniv (1982). EMBO J. 1, 231-237), it is possible that transcription of each of the HPV-1a RNA species is initiated using the HPV early promoter and terminated in pBR322.

Isolation of a human papillomavirus from a patient with epidermodysplasia verruciformis: presence of related viral DNA genomes in human urogenital tumors.

The DNA genome of a human papillomavirus (HPV), tentatively designated HPV-EV, was molecularly cloned from hand to leg lesions of a patient with epidermodysplasia verruciformis, a chronic skin disease associated with a 30% risk of developing cancer. Using stringent hybridization conditions, we observed less than 5% homology between HPV-EV and the cloned genomes of HPV-1, HPV-4, HPV-5, and HPV-5a. HPV-EV DNA showed approximately 6% homology with HPV-2 and 36% homology with HPV-3. These data suggest that HPV-EV is partially related to HPV-3. Using 32P-labeled cloned HPV-EV as probe in Southern blot hybridization experiments, we detected HPV-EV-related DNA in the carcinoma in situ (Bowenoid lesion) of the vulva of the patient from which HPV-EV was isolated. HPV-EV-related DNA was detected in 2 of 10 vulva carcinomas and in 2 of 31 cervical carcinomas. Related DNA sequences were found in papillomas from each of two patients with condyloma acuminata (anogenital warts), which is of interest considering that condylomas have been reported to convert occasionally to carcinomas. The positive vulva DNAs were also probed with other cloned HPV DNAs: HPV-1, HPV-4, and HPV-5a-related sequences were not detected; HPV-3 and HPV-2 DNA probes detected strong and weak DNA bands, respectively, of the same size as found with HPV-EV. The HPV DNA sequences were present in the positive tumors mainly as free viral DNA molecules; no evidence for integration into cellular DNA was found. The emerging biological picture with papillomaviruses is that cells transformed by these viruses are maintained in a transformed state by free episomal genomes. Thus, our findings are consistent with the idea, but by no means establish, that HPVs play a role in human cancer by a similar mechanism.

Identification and purification of a protein encoded by the human adenovirus type 2 transforming region.

The human adenovirus type 2 (Ad2) transforming genes are located in early regions E1a (map position 1.3 to 4.5) and E1b (map position 4.6 to 11.2). We have identified and purified to near homogeneity a major 20,000-molecular-weight (20K) protein and have shown that it is coded by E1b. Using an Ad2-transformed cell antiserum which contained antibody to E1b-coded proteins, we immunoprecipitated 53K and 19K proteins from the nucleoplasm and 53K, 19K, and 20K proteins from the cytoplasmic S-100 fraction of Ad2 productively infected and Ad2-transformed cells. The 19K protein was present in both the nucleoplasm and the cytoplasm, whereas the 20K protein was found only in the cytoplasm. The 53K and 19K proteins are known Ad2 E1b-coded proteins. The 20K protein was purified to near homogeneity in 20 to 50% yields by sequential DEAE-Sephacel chromatography and reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Purified 20K protein shares most of its methionine-labeled tryptic peptides with E1b-53K, as shown by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography, and therefore is closely related to the 53K protein. The 19K protein does not appear to share tryptic peptides with either 20K or 53K protein. To provide more direct evidence that 20K protein is virus-coded, we translated E1b-specific mRNA in vitro. Both immunoprecipitation analysis and high-performance liquid chromatography purification of the translated product identified a 20K protein that has the same tryptic peptides as the 20K protein isolated from infected and from transformed cells. These findings suggest that the Ad2 20K protein is a primary translation product of an Ad2 E1b mRNA.

Immunological and chemical identification of intracellular forms of adenovirus type 2 terminal protein.

Highly purified adenovirus type 2 terminal protein (TP) with an apparent M(r) of 55,000 (55K) was prepared in quantities of 10 to 30 mug from guanidine hydrochloride- or sodium dodecyl sulfate-disrupted virions (60 to 120 mg). Guinea pigs were immunized with 14 to 20 injections of TP in amounts of 1 to 2 mug. Antiserum to TP was used to study the intracellular polypeptides related to adenovirus type 2 TP. By immunoprecipitation with anti-TP serum, we identified 80K and 76K polypeptides in the nucleoplasmic and cytoplasmic S100 fractions of [(35)S]methionine-labeled cells early and late after infection with Ad2. By immunoautoradiographic analysis which eliminates coprecipitation of unrelated proteins, we identified an 80K polypeptide (probably an 80K-76K doublet) in unlabeled, late infected cells, using anti-TP serum and (125)I-labeled staphylococcal protein A. About two- to threefold-higher levels of the 80K and 76K polypeptides were present in the nucleoplasm than in the S100 fraction, and two- to threefold-higher levels were found in late infected cells than in early infected cells (cycloheximide enhanced, arabinofuranosylcytosine treated). We did not detect the 80K or 76K polypeptide in uninfected cells, indicating that these polypeptides are virus coded. Tryptic peptide map analysis showed that the 80K and 76K polypeptides are very closely related and that they share peptides with the DNA-bound 55K TP. Our data provide the first direct demonstration of intracellular 80K and 76K forms of TP. The intracellular 80K and 76K polypeptides are closely related or identical to the 80K polypeptide that Challberg and co-workers (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 77:5105-5109, 1980) detected at the termini of adenovirus DNA synthesized in vitro and to the 87K polypeptide that Stillman and co-workers (Cell 23:497-508, 1981) translated in vitro. We did not detect the 55K TP in early or late infected cells, consistent with the proposal by Challberg and co-workers that the 80K polypeptide is a precursor to the virion-bound TP and that the conversion of the 80K polypeptide to the 55K TP occurs during virus maturation. The 80K and 76K polypeptides have many more methionine-containing tryptic peptides than does the 55K TP, and most of the tryptic peptides unique to the 80K and 76K polypeptides are very hydrophobic. Thus, the conversion of the 80K and 76K polypeptides to the 55K TP may involve the removal of a specific hydrophobic protein region.

Immunoautoradiographic detection of proteins after electrophoretic transfer from gels to diazo-paper: analysis of adenovirus encoded proteins.

We describe a method by which complex protein mixtures are fractionated by standard one-dimensional Na-DodSO4/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis or O'Farrell two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and then are efficiently and rapidly transferred electrophoretically to diazobenzyloxymethyl- or diazophenylthioether-paper and analyzed by immunoautoradiography. The method is illustrated with protein extracts of human KB cells infected with adenovirus type 2. Proteins were transferred from gels without decrease in resolution and with an increase in the sensitivity of detection by autoradiography when [35S]-methionine-labeled proteins were used. When unlabeled proteins were transferred, low levels of virus encoded proteins could be detected by sequential treatment of diazobenzyloxymethyl-paper with anti-adenovirus type 2 virion or anti-73,000 DNA binding protein and 125I-labeled Staphyloccus aureus protein A. Covalently bound viral proteins retained immunologic reactivity after dissociation of the protein A and antibody, By one-dimensional gel transfer/immunoautoradiography, seven virion proteins were detected as prominent bands and several others as weaker bands. By two-dimensional gel transfer/immunoautoradiography, several additional viral proteins were detected. By use of anti-DNA binding protein serum, the Mr 73,000 protein and Mr 41,000-48,000 subspecies were detected. A protein present at a concentration of approximately 1 part in 100,000 of the total protein can be identified in cell extracts. This method may be applicable to various biological problems requiring resolution and detection of small amounts of specific proteins that can be recognized immunologically or that can be detected by binding to specific radiolabeled DNA or RNA sequences or hormones.