The isolation of tubulin and actin from mouse 3T3 cells transformed by simian virus 40 (SV3T3 cells), an established cell line growing in culture.

Tubulin can be purified from mouse SV3T3 cells (3T3 cells transformed by SV40 virus) by several cycles of temperature-dependent polymerization and depolymerization. Electron microscopical analysis of the final product reveals morphologically normal microtubules. Homogeneous actin can be isolated as a byproduct of the purification procedure. Mouse SV3T3 actin and skeletal muscle actin were compared by fingerprint analysis of the tryptic peptides obtained from performic-acid-oxidized protein. The two actins show a high degree of homology although apparently five of the twenty-five spots visualized by fluorescamine show a difference in chromatographic mobility. The purification procedure described allows the rapid isolation of both actin and tubulin from tissue culture in sufficient amounts for comparative biochemicals studies.     

Cell density-dependent secretion of plasminogen activator by 3T3 cells.

The expression of extracellular fibrinolytic activity in untransformed 3T3 cell cultures depends on the growth state of the cells. Actively growing 3T3 cultures exhibit a relatively high level of fibrinolysis, which decreases progressively as the cells become confluent and density-inhibited. The low level of fibrinolytic activity in confluent 3T3 cultures is due to a diminution in secretion of plasminogen activator since the intracellular level of plasminogen activator remains high. The amount of plasminogen activator observed in growing 3T3 cultures varies depending upon whether the cells are passaged with trypsin/EDTA solution, or with Ca++ selective chelating agent, ethylene-bis (oxyethylenenitrilo) tetraacetic acid (EGTA). However, in cells passaged using either agent, the amount of plasminogen activator secreted is always greatest when the cells are actively growing and decreases thereafter. In contrast to confluent 3T3 cultures, dense cultures of SV40-virus transformed 3T3 cells continued to secrete relatively large amounts of plasminogen activator. The ability to decrease secretion of plasminogen activator as cells become dense may be an important characteristic of cells which demonstrate density-dependent inhibition of cell multiplication in vitro.     

Distribution of tyrosinated and acetylated tubulin in centrioles during mitosis of 3T3 and SV40-3T3 cells

We performed a comparative electron microscopic analysis of centriolar and cytoplasmic microtubules stained with antibodies to acetylated or tyrosinated α-tubulin during the cell cycle of mouse nonmalignant Balb 3T3 (clone A31) and virus-transformed heteroploid SV40-3T3 cell lines. It was shown that the pattern of centriole immunostaining changed during the cell cycle in 3T3 (A31) cells, but not in tumorigenic SV40-3T3 cells. Remarkable changes in the centriole immunostaining pattern were observed during interphase-mitosis or mitosis-interphase transitions when the microtubule system and protein organization of centrosomes underwent drastic rearrangements. A high level of tyrosinated tubulin in centrioles was observed at all stages of the cell cycle except when entering mitosis, whereas a high level of acetylated tubulin was visualized in centrioles at all stages of the cell cycle except at the end of mitosis.     

Cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinases from Balb 3T3 cells and other 3T3 derived lines

Cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase and 3H-cAMP-binding activities were determined in normal Balb 3T3 cells and compared with the same preparations from SV40, chemical, and spontaneous transformants of 3T3 cells. The cytosolic protein kinase activities and protein kinase activity ratios were similar in all cell lines, although when the normal 3T3 cytosol was prepared by homogenization it contained less 3H-cAMP binding activity than the transformed 3T3 cytosols. The Triton X-100 treated particulate fractions from the normal and transformed 3T3 cells contained similar protein kinase and binding activities. The isozymic profile of cAMP-dependent protein kinases was examined by DEAE-chromatography. The 3T3 cells contained only type II isozyme in either cytosolic or membrane fractions. All transformants of the 3T3 cells contained both type I and type II isozymes. Other cell cultures, including chicken embryo fibroblasts, rat kidney cells, and human or calf endothelial cells contained type I and type II isozymes. Binding of the photoaffinity analogue of cAMP, 8-N3 cAMP, to the regulatory subunits of protein kinases in sonicates obtained from Balb 3T3 and SV 3T3 cells followed by separation on SDS polyacrylamide electrophoresis showed that the amount of RII subunit was approximately equal in the two cell lines. RI in Balb 3T3 cells was detectable but in a much lower quantity than in SV 3T3 cells. The cyclic AMP dependent-protein kinases from Balb 3T3 cells appears to be different from SV 3T3 cells by three criteria: 3H-cAMP binding in homogenates, DEAE chromatographic separation of isozymes, and 8-N3 cAMP binding.     

Density-dependent changes in the amount of sulfated glycosaminoglycans associated with mouse 3T3 cells.

The relative amount of sulfated glycosaminoglycans associated with the cell layer of parent and SV40-transformed Swiss mouse 3T3 cells was determined from the incorporation of labeled sulfate (35SO4) into macromolecular material. In cultures of SV40-transformed cells, the glycosaminoglycan content per cell was constant over a wide range of densities. In cultures of parent 3T3 cells, the glycosaminoglycan content per cell increased directly with density, the highest values being found in contact-inhibited cultures. At high cell densities, the glycosaminoglycan content of 3T3 cells was several-fold higher than that for SV40-transformed cells. Most of the density-dependent increase in glycosaminoglycans of 3T3 cells was accounted for by chondroitin sulfate (dermatan sulfate) which was over 6-fold higher in confluent cultures than in low density cultures.     

Isolation and characterization of revertant cell lines. 3. Isolation of density-revertants of SV40-transformed 3T3 cells using colchicine

Treatment of the SV40 transformed 3T3 cell line SV101 with colchicine permits the isolation of polyploid revertant sublines Which have lower saturation densities than SV101. These low saturation density lines have also reverted to a high serum requirement for growth, and are unable to form colonies in methocel. Normal SV40 has been recovered from these revertants. 3T3 cells are more resistant to colchicine than SV3T3 cells at all cell densities. Colchicine revertants do not display a 3T3-like resistance to colchicine at low density, but do survive colchicine at confluent cell densities, presumably due to their increased contact inhibition.     

Transport of amino acids in intact 3T3 and SV3T3 cells. Binding activity for leucine in membrane preparations of ehrlich ascites tumor cells

Transport of amino acids into 3T3 and SV3T3 (SV40 virus-transformed 3T3) cells was measured on glass cover slips. The 3T3 and SV3T3 cells contain both A (alanine preferring) and L (leucine preferring) systems for neutral amino acid transport. Initial rates of uptake of amino acids are about twofold higher in SV3T3 than in 3T3 cells. Other parameters measured, however, do not indicate marked differences in the transport of amino acids by the two cell types. L-system amino acids, such as leucine, are subject to trans-stimulation in both cell lines, whereas A-system amino acids, such as alanine and glycine, are not. Leucine was transported to higher levels in confluent cells than in nonconfluent cells. Glycine, however, shows distinctly less transport activity as the cells become confluent. Ehrlich ascites cell plasma membranes were prepared and assayed for amino acid-binding activity. Leucine-binding activity was detected by equilibrium dialysis in Triton X-100-treated membrane preparations.     

Non-histone chromosomal proteins from virus-transformed and untransformed 3T3 mouse fibroblasts.

A peak in the non-histone chromosomal protein polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis profiles has been detected which is higher in log phase 3T3 and 3T3/SV40 cells than in density-inhibited 3T3 cells. Radioactive incorporation is substantially higher into this peak in log phase 3T3 than in 3T3/SV40 and density-inhibited 3T3 cells. Reversion of 3T3/SV40 cells with dibutyryl cyclic AMP and theophylline produces increased radioactive incorporation into the peak. Electrophoresis of non-histone chromosomal proteins extracted at different stages of the cell cycle in density inhibited 3T3 cells following serum stimulation shows a cyclic variation in the amount of this peak with maximum accumulation in late G1. In contrast the height of an equivalent peak in synchronously growing 3T3/SV40 cells remains constant throughout the cell cycle. It is postulated that the protein(s) of this peak may have a regulatory role in cell growth.     

Proliferative activity and ribosomal RNA content of 3T3 and SV40-3T3 cells

The phenomenon of resistance of confluent 3T3 cells to serum stimulation of proliferation is investigated and shown to depend drastically on the kinetics of application of growth factors with the serum. The cellular content of ribosomal RNA is determined flow-cytometrically by measuring the red fluorescence of cells stained with acridine orange. Ribosomal RNA content of 3T3 cells, but not of SV40-3T3 cells, is shown to decrease after confluence. The kinetics of restoration of ribosomal RNA in stimulated 3T3 cells exhibits an increasing delay with increasing duration of quiescence. These and further results are consistent with “progression” to initiation of the cell cycle being closely associated with restoration of cellular content of ribosomes.     

Deoxyribonucleic Acid Replication in Simian Virus 40-Infected Cells IV. Two Different Requirements for Protein Synthesis During Simian Virus 40 Deoxyribonucleic Acid Replication

The replication of simian virus 40 (SV40) deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was inhibited by 99% 2 hr after the addition of cycloheximide to SV40-infected primary African green monkey kidney cells. The levels of 25S (replicating) and 21S (mature) SV40 DNA synthesized after cycloheximide treatment were always lower than those observed in an infected untreated control culture. This is consistent with a requirement for a protein(s) or for protein synthesis at the initiation step in SV40 DNA replication. The relative proportion of 25S DNA as compared with 21S viral DNA increased with increasing time after cycloheximide treatment. Removal of cycloheximide from inhibited cultures allowed the recovery of viral DNA synthesis to normal levels within 3 hr. During the recovery period, the ratio of 25S DNA to 21S DNA was 10 times higher than that observed after a 30-min pulse with (3)H-thymidine with an infected untreated control culture. The accumulation of 25S replicating SV40 DNA during cycloheximide inhibition or shortly after its removal is interpreted to mean that a protein(s) or protein synthesis is required to convert the 25S replicating DNA to 21S mature viral DNA. Further evidence of a requirement for protein synthesis in the 25S to 21S conversion was obtained by comparing the rate of this conversion in growing and resting cells. The conversion of 25S DNA to 21S DNA took place at a faster rate in infected growing cells than in infected confluent monolayer cultures. A temperature-sensitive SV40 coat protein mutation (large-plaque SV40) had no effect on the replication of SV40 DNA at the nonpermissive temperature.     

Dependence of intracellular alkali-ion concentrations of 3T3 and SV 40-3T3 cells on growth density.

Intracellular contents of potassium and of sodium are determined for 3T3 and SV 40-3T3 cells in dependence of growth density. In parallel, total cell volume and volume of intracellular water is determined for these cells suspended in physiological buffer. Intracellular potassium concentration thus evaluated for suspended 3T3 cells exhibits a sharp decrease at cellular growth densities which lead to density dependent inhibition of cell proliferation. In the case of SV 40-3T3 cells, this drop of potassium concentration with increasing cellular growth density is not observed, which correlates well with the absence of cell density dependent inhibition of cell growth in the transformed cell line. These results support the notion that processes of stimulation of quiescent 3T3 cells or of cell density dependent inhibition of their proliferation are mediated by processes including changes of potassium transport characteristics leading to increase or decrease respectively of their intracellular potassium concentration. Furthermore, these and other results suggest, that a difference between normal and transformed cells most relevant to their different proliferation behaviour might reside in different transport characteristics for potassium of the plasma membranes of these cells.     

Synthesis and distribution of cytoskeletal elements in endothelial cells as a function of cell growth and organization

Confluent cultures of adult bovine aortic endothelial (ABAE), correal endothelial (BCE), and fetal bovine heart endothelial (FBHE) cells form a monolayer of highly flattened, closely apposed, and nonoverlapping cells. In ABAE and BCE cultures, this is associated with a 50-fold decrease in the rate of DNA synthesis and correlates with a 14-fold decrease in protein synthesis. In contrast, in confluent FBHE cultures only partial decreases in the rates of DNA synthesis (6-fold) and protein synthesis (3-fold) are observed. FBHE cells therefore fulfill the morphological, but not the biochemical, criteria for confluent cultured endothelial cell monolayers. The appearance of the cytoskeletal elements actin, tubulin, and vimentin in sparse and confluent cultures of endothelial cells has been analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and immunofluorescence. Sparse versus confluent ABAE, FBHE, and BCE cultures showed no changes in their relative rates of synthesis or cellular content of tubulin. Actin behaved similarly to tubulin in FBHE and BCE cultures, while in ABAE cultures a small increase (3-fold) in its relative rate of synthesis was observed in confluent versus sparse cultures. BCE cultures showed no change in the rate of synthesis of vimentin, but the cellular content of vimentin was markedly increased when cultures reached confluence. When the distribution of vimentin in both sparse and confluent BCE cultures was analyzed by immunofluorescence, in both cases it appeared distributed throughout the cytoplasm as thin fibers and bundles of fibers. In confluent ABAE cultures, both the relative amount and biosynthetic rate of vimentin increased by 15-fold. This increase in the intracellular accumulation of vimentin correlated with its immunofluorescent distribution within the cells. While in sparse cultures, vimentin appeared to be distributed as thin fibers, in confluent cultures thick curl-like fibrous bundles could be seen distributed throughout the cytoplasm and organized in a perinuclear ring. In contrast, in FBHE cultures no significant changes in the distribution and organization of rate of synthesis of vimentin were observed.     

Lipids of whole cells and plasma membrane fractions from Balb/c3T3, SV3T3, and concanavalin A-selected revertant cells.

The lipid composition of Balb/c3T3, SV3T3, and the concanavalin A-selected SV3T3 revertant cells has been analyzed at the whole cell and plasma membrane levels. In comparison to untransformed 3T3 whole cells, SV3T3 cells showed an unchanged content of triacylglycerols, free fatty acids, and glycerylether diesters but a lower concentration of total phospholipids, while no significant difference was found in the phospholipid composition. Whole SV3T3 revertant cells exhibited a lipid composition similar to that in untransformed 3T3 cells with the exception of a higher proportion of sphingomyelin. Analysis of isolated plasma membranes did not reveal any significant differences in the cholesterol to phospholipid molar ratio between 3T3 and SV3T3 or SV3T3 revertant cells. The major changes in the acyl chain pattern SV3T3 compared with whole 3T3 cells consisted of an increase of oleic and palmitoleic acids coupled with a decrease of C20 and C22 polyunsaturated acids in phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylcholine; an increase of oleic acid was also evident in SV3T3 phosphatidylinositol plus phosphatidylserine. An increase of palmitoleic and oleic acids together with a decrease of arachidonic acid was also found in phosphatidylethanolamine of SV3T3 plasma membranes; the only change in SV3T3 plasma membrane phosphatidylcholine was an increase of oleic acid. An increase of monoenoic acids together with a decrease of arachidonic acid was also found in phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, and phosphatidylinositol plus phosphatidylserine of SV3T3 revertant cells at the level of both whole cells and plasma membranes.     

The relative amounts of the cytoplasmic RNA species in normal, transformed and senescent cultured cell lines.

We have examined the relative quantities of 18S and 28S rRNA, 4S RNA and poly (A) + mRNA in the following cultured cells: the mouse fibroblast lines 3T3 and 3T6 in the resting (contact inhibited) and growing (sparse) states, 3T3 clones transformed with SV40 (SV3T3) and with both SV40 and polyoma SV-Py 3T3), hamster lung fibrobalsts (v79), human cervical carcinoma cells (HeLa), and human diploid fibroblasts at early and late passage. The relative quantities of the RNA species were determined by labeling the cells to equilibrium with 32PO4 and measuring the amount of label in each RNA species. The ratio of mRNA to rRNA varied form 1.1% to 2.7% in the different cell lines, the more rapidly growing cell lines usually giving a higher ratio. In cells experiencing growth limitation either by contact inhibition or due to senescence, the ratio of mRNA to rRNA was about 30% lower than in the corresponding cells in the growing state. In most cell lines the ratio of 4S RNA to 18S rRNA was between 0.8 and 1.2, but in seescent fibroblasts, this ratio increased to greater than 1.7. Senescent fibroblasts also contained much more total RNA per unit of DNA than the same cells at early passage or than 3T6 or 3T3 cells.     

Identification of a PDGF-like mitoattractant produced by NIH/3T3 cells after transformation with SV40

It has previously been shown that fibroblastic cells transformed by SV40 exhibit a reduced requirement for PDGF for growth. In addition, NIH/3T3 cells lose both their chemotactic response to PDGF and specific cell surface binding of PDGF after transformation with SV40. We have now examined whether the SV40 transformed NIH/3T3 cells are producing a factor which acts similarly to PDGF. Our studies indicate that NIH/3T3 cells transformed with SV 40 produce a factor which shares many biological properties with PDGF. We were unable to detect this activity in conditioned media from nontransformed NIH/3T3 cells. The SV40/NIH/3T3 derived factor appears to possess both chemotactic and mitogenic activity for connective tissue cells but not endothelial or epithelial cells. Furthermore, in preliminary studies, this activity competes with 125I-PDGF for binding to smooth muscle cells. The biochemical properties of the SV40/NIH/3T3 derived factor are different from those of PDGF. The SV40 activity appears to reside in a heat labile acidic protein (pI less than 7.0) of MW less than 30,000 whereas PDGF is a heat stable basic protein (pI9.8) of 30,000 MW. Production of this factor may play a role in the decreased serum requirement for cell replication exhibited by SV40-transformed NIH/3T3 cells by supplying the cells with their own PDGF-like growth factor.     

CONTACT-INHIBITED REVERTANT CELL LINES ISOLATED FROM SV40-TRANSFORMED CELLS : II. Ultrastructural Study

The ultrastructural appearances of normal 3T3, SV40-transformed 3T3 (SV-3T3), and F1A revertant cell lines are compared. Both confluent and subconfluent cultures are described after in situ embedding of the cells for electron microscopy. There is striking nuclear pleomorphism in F1A revertant cells, with many cells having large nuclei compared to the less variable nuclear morphology of both normal 3T3 and SV-3T3 cells. Under the culture conditions used, deep infoldings of the nuclear envelope are prominent in growing cells, e.g., subconfluent normal 3T3 and confluent SV-3T3 cells. Such infoldings are infrequently seen in cultures which display contact inhibition of growth, e.g., normal 3T3 or F1A revertant cells grown just to confluence. In confluent cultures, the cytoplasmic organelles in revertant cells closely resemble those of normal 3T3 cells. In both normal and revertant cells in confluent culture, the peripheral cytoplasm (ectoplasm) has many 70 A filaments (alpha filaments), which are frequently aggregated into bundles. Alpha filaments are also abundant in the ectoplasm near regions of cell-to-cell apposition and in the motile cell processes (filopodia). The abundance and state of aggregation of alpha filaments correlates with contact inhibition of movement and growth in these cell lines since fewer bundles of alpha filaments are seen in growing cells than in contact-inhibited cells. This observation suggests that these filaments may be an important secondary component in the regulation of contact inhibition of movement and, possibly, of growth in normal and revertant cells.     

Antioxidants-induced rearrangements of actin cytoskeleton in 3T3 and 3T3-SV40 fibroblasts

Effect of antioxidants on actin cytoskeleton in 3T3 fibroblasts and 3T3 fibroblasts transformed with SV40 virus (3T3-SV40 cells) was studied. Antioxidants used were as follows: N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), (-)-2-oxo-4-thiazolidine-carboxylic acid (OTZ), and glutathione in the reduced form (GSH). Both NAC and OTZ are precursors of GSH in the cell, but, in contrast to NAC, OTZ reduces inside the cell forming L-cysteine. The presence of NAC (5-20 mM) in the culture medium of both cell types resulted in loosening of monolayer, fragmentation of stress fibers, and the appearance of amorphous actin structures. As 3T3-SV40 cells contain less actin stress fibers than 3T3 cells, the NAC-induced rearrangements of actin cytoskeleton were stronger in these cells than in 3T3 cells. In contrast to NAC, OTZ (10-20 mM) did not destroy monolayer and did not induce any visible disappearance of stress fibers either in 3T3 or 3T3-SV40 cells. However, in the presence of OTZ, amorphous actin-containing structures were observed in 3T3-SV40 cells. The effect of glutathione on both cell types was similar to that of NAC. The time required for GSH-induced alterations of actin cytoskeleton (about 5 h) was consistent with the increase in the intracellular level of reactive oxygen species (4 h after addition of GSH to the culture medium). Upon removal of the antioxidants from the medium, actin filament structures were reconstructed. However, within 24 h after withdrawal of NAC or GSH, only a partial reconstruction of stress fibers was observed in 3T3 cells. On the contrary, 3T3-SV40 cells demonstrated formation of well-structured actin fibers similar to normal fibroblasts. These results suggest that GSH can act as a pro-oxidant in the absence of oxidative stress.     

2-amino-isobutyric acid and 3-O-methyl-D-glucose transport in 3T3, SV 40-transformed 3T3 and revertant cell lines.

In order to further investigate the connection between transport and growth control, 3T3 cells, SV40 transformed 3T3 cells (SV101), and three revertant cell lines derived from SV101 which have regained certain manifestations of growth control were used. Transport rates of 2-amino-isobutyric acid and 3-O-methyl-D-glucose were measured in sparse, confluent, serum-starved, and serum-stimulated cultures. As shown before, cessation of 3T3 cell growth in G0 under conditions of confluence or serum deprivation was associated with reduced rates of transport for both compounds, whereas the density and serum dependence of growth and transport was largely eliminated in SV101. The density revertant F1SV101, which has regained density regulation of growth similar to 3T3 cells, has also regained density regulation of transport. Neither growth nor transport were serum dependent. The serum revertants AgammaSV7 and LsSV6 have regained both density and serum regulation of growth, but not according to the original mechanism of 3T3 cells of entry into a Go state. Transport was high under conditions of confluence or serum deprivation. Thus for these cells rates of transport were not reduced simply as a consequences of slower cell growth nor were low transport rates responsible for growth arrest. The data are consistent with the possibility that growth arrest specifically in the G0 state could shut off a number of cellular activities, including transport.     

Microcompartmentation of glycolytic enzymes in cultured cells.

The microcompartmentation of aldolase and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate-dehydrogenase (GAPDH) was investigated in four different cell types (3T3 cells, SV 40 transformed 3T3 cells, mouse fibroblasts, chick embryo cardiomyocytes) combining cell permeabilization and indirect immunofluorescence technique. Permeabilization of the cells prior to fixation released the soluble fractions, whilst the total amount of enzymes was preserved in nonpermeabilized cells. Both enzymes exist in a soluble as well as in a structure-bound form. The soluble fraction of aldolase and GAPDH is distributed homogeneously throughout the cytoplasm, excluding the nucleus and vesicles. The permeabilization-resistant form is associated with the actin cytoskeleton. A considerable amount of both enzymes is located in the perinuclear region and cannot be attributed to a definite structure. Comparing the staining patterns of aldolase and GAPDH in four different cell types we found that the distribution of the enzymes corresponds with diverse forms of actin cytoskeletal organization of these cells. The codistribution is maintained in cells treated with cytochalasin D.     

Possible role of SV40 T antigen in cell transformation]

The effect of purified SV40 T antigen on DNA synthesis in isolated nuclei from the confluent culture of CV-1 cells was studied. In the presence of T antigen the incorporation of [3H]TTP into DNA was found to be 2 to 3 times as high as in the control nuclei. The resulting labelled DNA was subjected to alkaline sucrose gradient centrifugation, which revealed the presence of 4S DNA species, corresponding to Okazaki fragments of animal cells. The latter finding suggests a replicative mode of DNA synthesis induced by T antigen. T antigen isolated from the cells infected with SV40 tsA-mutant and kept at a nonpermissive (41 degrees) temperature fails to stimulate DNA synthesis in isolated nuclei from resting cells. On storage at 4 degrees SV40 T antigen gradually loses its ability to stimulate DNA synthesis and by the 8th day even suppresses it when tested on isolated nuclei from a growing cell culture. No effect of T antigen on the endonuclease-induced reparative synthesis of DNA could be observed. The data described suggest that T antigen is directly involved in the control of DNA synthesis in the cells infected or transformed with SV40.