Mechanisms of synthesis of virion proteins from the functionally bigenic late mRNAs of simian virus 40.

The late 19S RNAs of simian virus 40 (SV40) are functionally polycistronic, i.e., all encode both VP2 and VP3. The VP3-coding sequences are situated in the same reading frame as the VP2-coding sequences, within the carboxy-terminal two-thirds of the VP2-coding sequences. To test whether VP3 is produced by proteolytic processing of VP2, we introduced a variety of deletion and insertion mutations within the amino-terminal end of the VP2-coding sequences. Genetic and biochemical analysis of the proteins synthesized in cells transfected with these mutants indicated that VP2 and VP3 were synthesized independently of each other. A leaky scanning model for the synthesis of VP3 was tested by the insertion of a strong initiation signal (CCAACATGG) upstream of the VP3-coding sequences. When the signal was placed in the same reading frame as VP3, synthesis of VP3 was reduced by a factor of 10 to 20, whereas synthesis of the expected VP3-related fusion protein occurred at a rate similar to that observed for VP3 in cells transfected with wild-type SV40 DNA. Insertion of this strong initiation signal at the same site, but in a different reading frame, resulted in the synthesis of VP3 at one-third of the wild-type rate. Mutation of the VP2 initiator AUG resulted in a small but reproducible (1.6-fold) increase in VP3 accumulation. From these experiments we conclude that (i) VP3 is synthesized predominantly by independent initiation of translation via a leaky scanning mechanism, rather than by proteolytic processing of VP2 or direct internal initiation of translation; (ii) a strong initiation signal 5' of the VP3-coding sequences can significantly inhibit synthesis of VP3, but does not act as an absolute barrier to scanning ribosomes; (iii) approximately 70% of scanning ribosomes bypass the VP2 initiator AUG, which is present in a weak context (GGUCCAUGG), and initiate at the VP3 initiation signal located downstream; and (iv) reinitiation of translation appears to occur on the SV40 late 19S mRNAs at an efficiency of 25 to 50%.     

Selective translation initiation on bicistronic simian virus 40 late mRNA.

We described previously a simian virus 40 (SV40) mutant, pSVAdL, that was defective in synthesis of the late viral protein VP1. This mutant, which contains a 100-base-pair fragment of adenovirus DNA encompassing the major late promoter inserted in the SV40 late promoter region (SV40 nucleotide 294), efficiently synthesizes agnoprotein, a protein encoded by the leader region of the same mRNA that encodes VP1. When the agnoprotein AUG initiation codon in pSVAdL was mutated to UUG, agnoprotein synthesis was abolished, and VP1 synthesis was elevated to wild-type levels. Because levels of late mRNA synthesis were not affected by this mutation, these results support a scanning model of translation initiation and suggest that internal translational reinitiation does not occur efficiently in this situation.     

Cell-free translation of simian virus 40 16S and 19S L-strand-specific mRNA classes to simian virus 40 major VP-1 and minor VP-2 and VP-3 capsid proteins.

Simian virus 40 capsid proteins VP-1, VP-2, and VP-3 have been synthesized in wheat germ and reticulocyte cell-free systems in response to either poly(A)-containing mRNA from the cytoplasm of infected cells or viral RNA purified by hybridization to simian virus 40 DNA linked to Sepharose. All three viral polypeptides synthesized in vitro are specifically immunoprecipitated with anti-simian virus 40 capsid serum. VP-2 and VP-3 are related by tryptic peptide mapping to each other but not to VP-1. The most abundant class of L-strand-specific viral mRNA, the 16S species, codes for the major capsid protein. The relatively minor 19S class directs the cell-free synthesis of VP-1, VP-2, and VP-3. Whether the 19S RNA represents more than one distinct species of mRNA is not yet clear. VP-1 mRNA can be isolated from the cytoplasm, detergent-washed nuclei, and the nuclear wash fraction. The mRNA from the nuclear wash fraction is enriched for VP-2 mRNA when compared to other viral or cellular polypeptides.     

Capping structures of simian virus 40 19S and 16S mRNAs.

In vivo [methyl 3H]-labeled SV40 19S and 16S mRNA species were purified and their internal methylation as well as their capping structures analyzed. SV40 viral mRNA sedimenting in the 19S region contains approximately equal proportions of m7GpppAm and m7Gppm6Am, while the 16S mRNA contains mainly m7Gpppm6Am. N6 methyl adenosine is located internally within the RNA chains of both the 19S and 16S species.     

Characterization of the 5''-terminal capped structures of late simian virus 40-specific mRNA.

32P-labeled, late simian virus 40-specific RNA was isoalted from infected CV1 cells and completely degraded with RNase T2 and bacterial alkaline phosphatase. The RNase-resistant material was fractionated two dimensionally and further characterized with Penicillium nuclease and nucleotide pyrophosphatase. Two major 5' termini were identified in late simian virus 40 RNA, namely, 7-methyl Gppp 2',6-dimethyl ApUp and 7-methyl Gppp 2',6-dimethyl Ap 2'-methyl, UpUp. Both 5' termini are present in unfractionated viral RNA as well as in the separated 16S and 19S species. As both caps differ only in secondary modification, it is possible that they are derived from the same site on the DNA. The relatively higher cap II content of the 16S mRNA may be related to its slower rate of turnover.     

Leakage of nuclear transcripts late in simian virus 40-infected CV1 cells: quantitation of spliced and unspliced late 19S RNAs.

During the late phase of simian virus 40 infections of CV1 cells, the relative ratios of the spliced to the unspliced RNA molecules of the 19S family were measured. In the cytoplasm, unspliced 19S RNA represented between 1 and 2% of spliced 19S RNA. This ratio could be altered by the use of different methods of RNA extraction such that unspliced RNA was observed at 10 to 20% of spliced RNA. The nuclear ratios of spliced to unspliced 19S RNA were also determined. In contrast to cytoplasmic RNA, nuclear unspliced RNA was several hundred percent that of nuclear spliced 19S RNA. Cytoplasmic unspliced 19S RNA appears to be of nuclear origin, and its presence in the cytoplasmic fraction is due to nuclear leakage during RNA fractionation.     

Proteins in intracellular simian virus 40 nucleoportein complexes: comparison with simian virus 40 core proteins.

Intracellular nucleoprotein complexes containing SV40 supercoiled DNA were purified from cell lysates by chromatography on hydroxyapatite columns followed by velocity sedimentation through sucrose gradients. The major protein components from purified complexes were identified as histone-like proteins. When analyzed by electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels, complex proteins comigrated with viral core polypeptides VP4, VP5, VP6, and VP7. (3H) tryptophan was not detected in polypeptides from intracellular complexes or in the histone components from purified SV40 virus. However, a large amount of (3H) tryptophan was found in the viral polypeptide VP3 relative to that incorporated into the capsid polypeptides VP1 and VP2. Intracellular complexes contain 30 to 40% more protein than viral cores prepared by alkali dissociation of intact virus, but when complexes were exposed to the same alkaline conditions, protein also was removed from complexes and they subsequently co-sedimented with and had the same buoyant density as viral cores. The composition and physical similarities of nucleoprotein complex and viral cores indicate that complexes may have a role in the assembly of virions.     

Both VP2 and VP3 are synthesized from each of the alternative spliced late 19S RNA species of simian virus 40.

The late 19S RNAs of simian virus 40 consist of a family of alternatively spliced RNAs, each of which contains open reading frames corresponding to all three of the virion proteins. Two approaches were used to test the hypothesis that each alternatively spliced 19S RNA species is translated to synthesize preferentially only one of the virion proteins. First, we analyzed the synthesis of virion proteins in simian virus 40 mutant-infected monkey cells that accumulate predominantly either only one spliced 19S RNA species or only the 19S RNAs. Second, we determined the virion proteins synthesized in a rabbit reticulocyte lysate programmed with specific, in vitro-transcribed 19S RNA species. These results indicated that VP2 and VP3, but not VP1, are synthesized from all 19S RNA species. Quantitative analysis of these data indicated that individual 19S RNA species containing a translation initiation signal upstream of the VP2 AUG codon were translated in a cell extract three- to fivefold less efficiently than were 19S RNA species lacking this signal and that the precise rate of synthesis of VP2 relative to VP3 varied somewhat with the sequence of the leader region. These data are consistent with the synthesis of VP2 and VP3 occurring by a leaky scanning mechanism in which initiation of translation at a specific AUG codon is affected by both (i) the intrinsic efficiency of ribosomes recognizing the sequences surrounding the AUG codon as an initiation signal and (ii) partial interference from 5'-proximal initiation signals and their corresponding open reading frames.     

The transforming proteins of simian virus 40

Simian virus 40 (SV40) is a small DNA tumor virus whose early gene products, large T and small t antigens, efficiently immortalize and transform primary rodent cells, transform rodent cell lines and extend the lifespan of primary human cells. Mutational analysis has revealed that the transforming and lifespan extension properties of large T antigen correlate with binding to and disruption of the normal functions of the human tumor suppressor proteins pRb and p53. Small t antigen contributes to cell proliferation through inactivation of protein phosphatase 2A and subsequent activation of the MAP kinase pathway. By disrupting key cell growth control mechanisms, SV40 transforming proteins provide a valuable system for analysis of cellular growth control mechanisms.     

Attenuation of late simian virus 40 mRNA synthesis is enhanced by the agnoprotein and is temporally regulated in isolated nuclear systems.

Studies were performed to verify the physiological significance of attenuation in the life cycle of simian virus 40 and the role of agnoprotein in this process. For these purposes, nuclei were isolated at various times after infection and incubated in vitro in the presence of [alpha-32P]UTP under the standard conditions which lead to attenuation. Attenuation was evident by the production of a 94-nucleotide attenuator RNA, revealed by gel electrophoresis. In parallel, the synthesis of agnoprotein was studied at various times after infection by labeling the cells for 3 h with [14C]arginine, lysing them, and analyzing the labeled proteins by gel electrophoresis. Both attenuation and the synthesis of agnoprotein were predominant towards the end of the infectious cycle. At earlier times, there was almost no attenuation and no synthesis of agnoprotein. Moreover, there was almost no attenuation even at the latest times after infection in nuclei isolated from cells infected with simian virus 40 deletion mutants that do not synthesize agnoprotein. Finally, analysis by dot blot hybridization showed higher amounts of cytoplasmic viral RNA in cells infected with an agnoprotein gene insertion mutant, delta 79, that does not produce agnoprotein, compared with cells infected with wild-type virus. The present studies indicate that attenuation is temporally regulated and suggest that agnoprotein enhances attenuation in isolated nuclei and that may also enhance it in vivo.     

In vitro splicing of simian virus 40 early pre mRNA.

The products of splicing of simian virus 40 early pre mRNA in HeLa cell nuclear extracts have been characterized. Of the two alternative splicing patterns exhibited by this precursor in vivo, which involve the use of alternative large T and small t 5' splice sites and a single shared 3' splice site, only one, producing large T mRNA, was found to occur in vitro. A number of possible intermediates and byproducts of splicing of large T mRNA were observed, including free large T 5' exon, lariat form intron joined to 3' exon and free lariat and linear forms of large T intron. The formation of these products argues strongly for a basic similarity in the mechanism underlying large T and other, non-alternative splices. A collection of RNAs resulting from protection of early pre mRNA at specific points from an endogenous 5' to 3' exonuclease activity in vitro have also been observed. The regions of the precursor RNA protected map to positions immediately upstream of the 5' splice sites of large T and small t and the lariat branchpoint, and may represent interaction of these regions with components of the splicing machinery.