Induction of endoreduplication in temperature-sensitive mutants of rat 3Y1 fibroblasts

Four temperature-sensitive mutants of rat 3Y1 fibroblasts belonging to separate complementation groups (3Y1tsD123, 3Y1tsF121, 3Y1tsG125, and 3Y1tsH203) are arrested mainly with a 2C DNA content, when cells proliferating at 33.8 degrees C are shifted up to 39.8 degrees C (Ohno et al., 1984). Zaitsu and Kimura (submitted for publication) showed that 3Y1tsF121 cells synchronized in the early S phase were arrested with a 4C DNA content at 39.8 degrees C. We studied the traverse through the S and G2 phases at 39.8 degrees C in the four ts mutants synchronized at the early S phase and found that 3Y1tsG125 and 3Y1tsH203 cells were arrested with a 4C DNA content as 3Y1tsF121, while 3Y1tsD123 cells went through S and G2 phases and underwent mitosis. When 3Y1tsF121 and 3Y1tsG125 mutants arrested at 39.8 degrees C were shifted down to 33.8 degrees C, a substantial fraction of the cells with a 4C DNA content started, with a certain lag period, DNA synthesis without intervening mitosis and underwent the first mitosis with a lag period similar to that in the cells arrested with a 2C DNA content. The tetraploid cells thus generated had a proliferating ability lower than that of diploid cells.     

Effect of temperature and cell density on cellular protein content in temperature-sensitive mutants of rat 3Y1 diploid fibroblasts

Summary We examined cellular protein content in four temperature-sensitive (ts) mutants of rat 3Y1 fibroblasts (3Y1tsD123, 3Y1tsF121, 3Y1tsG125, and 3Y1tsH203) under various conditions of culture that affect cell proliferation. When proliferation of the ts mutants was inhibited at a nonpermissive temperature (39.8°C) in the G₁ phase, prominent accumulation of cellular protein occurred in three mutants (3Y1tsF121, 3Y1tsG125, and 3Y1tsH203) but not in 3Y1tsD123. The over-accumulation of protein at 39.8°C in the former three mutants was inhibited at high cell densities. At low cell densities there was an upper limit in the protein accumulation at 39.8°C. When the three mutants, proliferation-arrested at high cell densities at 33.8°C, were replated sparsely in fresh medium and shifted to 39.8°C, proliferation was completely inhibited whereas over-accumulation of protein occurred. These results indicating dissociation of protein accumulation and cell proliferation suggest that the two events are regulated by different mechanisms. This work was supported in part by a Grant-in-Aid for Encouragement of Young Scientists (1984) to K. Y. from the Ministry of Education, Science, and Culture, Japan.     

Advance toward S phase and retreat toward deeper "G0" states in resting 3Y1 cells with environmental changes

To elucidate conditions which affect the lag time for resting cells to enter S phase after serum stimulation, we used a wild-type 3Y1 rat fibroblast line and four temperature-sensitive mutants of 3Y1 (3Y1tsD123, 3Y1tsF121, 3Y1tsG125, and 3Y1tsH203). Among these five lines, in only tsG125 cells was there an obviously prolonged lag time with increase in time in resting state at 33.8 degrees C. The resting wild-type 3Y1 cells, preexposed to 39.8 degrees C, also showed a prolongation of lag time. The prolongation in tsG125 had a certain limit. Preexposure to 39.8 degrees C before serum stimulation accelerated such prolongation in tsG125 to its limit, but did not change the limit, per se. Resting tsG125 cells stimulated by serum at 39.8 degrees C, did not enter S phase, yet they did advance toward S phase. When they were kept at 39.8 degrees C, they retreated toward a deeper resting state ("G0") with time. These retreats correlated with the decrease in stimulating activity in the culture media. About 20% of the resting tsG125 cells stimulated by serum at 39.8 degrees C were committed to enter S phase, when the extent of commitment was examined at 33.8 degrees C. Most of the tsG125 cells committed at 33.8 degrees C did not enter S phase, when the extent of commitment was examined at 39.8 degrees C. More cells were committed after stimulation at 33.8 degrees C than at 39.8 degrees C, when the test was done at 33.8 degrees C. We suggest that resting cells may be reversibly changed within range of resting states, in either direction, that is, advance toward S phase or retreat toward deeper "G0." These changes may be determined by alterations in the balance between synthesis and decay of the preparedness for the initiation of DNA synthesis caused by cellular response to environmental changes (e.g., medium activity, temperature, etc.). The ts defect in tsG125 may affect the cell cycle progression, both before and after commitment by serum.     

Elongation and shortening of time required for entry into S phase after release from G 1 and G 0 arrests in temperature-sensitive mutants of rat 3Y1 Cells

Temperature-sensitive (ts) mutants of rat 3Y1 fibroblasts representing four separate complementation groups (3Y1tsD123, 3Y1tsF121, 3Y1tsG125, and 3Y1tsH203) are arrested mainly in the G1 phase when cells of randomly proliferating population at 33.8 degrees C are shifted to 39.8 degrees C (temperature arrest). We examined the time lag of the cellular entry into the S phase after release at 33.8 degrees C, both from the temperature arrest and from the arrest at 33.8 degrees C at a confluent cell density (density arrest). In the temperature-arrested cells, as the duration of temperature arrest increased, the time lag of entry into S phase after shift down to 33.8 degrees C was prolonged, in all four mutants. These observations suggest that the four different functional lesions, each causing arrest in the G1 phase, are also responsible for prolongation of the time lag of entry into the S phase in cells arrested in the G1 phase. The prolongation of the time lag in the temperature-arrested cultures was accelerated at a higher cell density, in medium supplemented with a lower concentration of serum, and at a higher restrictive temperature. In the density-arrested cells, as the duration of pre-exposure to 39.8 degrees C was increased, the time lag of entry into S phase at 33.8 degrees C after release from the arrest was drastically prolonged, in all four mutants. In 3Y1tsF121, 3Y1tsG125, and 3Y1tsH203, when the density-arrested cells were prestimulated by serum at 39.8 degrees C for various periods of time, the time lag of entry into S phase after release from the density arrest at 33.8 degrees C was initially shortened, and then, prolonged progressively as the period of prestimulation increased. These findings, taken together with other data, show that all four ts defects affect cells in states ranging from the deeper resting to mid- or late-G1 phase. It is suggested that events represented by these four mutants are required for entry into the S phase and normally operate in parallel but not in sequence in cells in states ranging from the deeper resting to the mid- or late-G1 phases, though they may affect each other.     

Arrest states in a set of mutants of rat 3Y1 cells temperature-sensitive for entering S phase

Four temperature-sensitive (ts) mutants of rat 3Y1 cells (3Y1tsD123, 3Y1tsF121, 3Y1tsG125, and 3Y1tsH203) are arrested at 39.8°C mainly with a 2N DNA content (temperature-arrested cells). The states of these cells were compared with findings in case of cells arrested at 33.8°C at saturation density (density-arrested cells), with regard to the ability to enter S phase after release from arrest or after serum stimulation at 39.8°C. With the 3Y1tsD123, the ts defect is an event which seems essential for the initiation of S phase and occurs after mitosis but not after release from the density arrest. The defect in 3Y1tsF121 related to the efficiency of utilization of serum component(s). In case of 3Y1tsG125, the state of temperature arrest appeared to locate between the state of density arrest and the beginning of S phase. There was no significant difference between the density- and the temperature-arrested cells, in case of 3Y1tsH203.     

Abortive transformation of temperature-sensitive mutants of rat 3Y1 cells by simian virus 40: effect of cellular arrest states on entry into S phase and cellular proliferation

Four temperature-sensitive (ts) mutants of rat 3Y1 fibroblasts, representing independent complementation groups, cease to proliferate predominantly with a 2n DNA content, at the restrictive temperature (39.8 degrees C) (temperature arrest) or at the permissive temperature (33.8 degrees C) at a confluent cell density (density arrest) (Ohno et al., 1984). We studied the temperature- or the density-arrested cells of these mutants infected with simian virus 40 (SV40) or its mutants affecting large T or small t antigen with respect to kinetics at 39.8 degrees C of entry into S phase and cellular proliferation. Three mutants, 3Y1tsD123, 3Y1tsF121 and 3Y1tsG125, expressed T antigen and entered S phase at 39.8 degrees C from both the arrested states after infection with either wild-type, tsA mutants, or a .54/.59 deletion mutant of SV40, whereas in the density-arrested 3Y1tsH203, expression of T antigen and entry into S phase were inefficient and ts. Following the WT-SV40 induced entry into S phase, the temperature-arrested 3Y1tsD123 detached from the substratum with no detectable increase in cell number, whereas the density-arrested ones completed a round of the cell cycle and then detached. 3Y1tsF121 and 3Y1tsG125 in the both arrested states proliferated through more than one generation. 3Y1tsF121 and 3Y1tsG125 in the density-arrested state infected with tsA mutants once proliferated and then ceased to increase in number as the percentage of T-antigen positive population decreased. These results suggest that wild-type and tsA-mutated large T antigens are able to overcome the cellular ts blocks of entry into S phase in the 3 ts mutants of 3Y1 cells in both the arrested states, and that small t antigen is not required to overcome the blocks. It is also suggested that cellular behaviors subsequent to S phase (viability, mitosis, and proliferation in the following generations) depend on cellular arrest states, on traits of cellular ts defects, and on the duration of large T antigen expression.     

Induction of DNA synthesis by fibroblast growth factor in temperature-sensitive cell-cycle mutants of rat 3Y1 fibroblasts arrested at restrictive temperature.

Four temperature-sensitive cell-cycle mutants of rat 3Y1 clonal fibroblasts representing separate complementation groups (3Y1tsD123, 3Y1tsF121, 3Y1tsG125 and 3Y1tsH203) are arrested at restrictive temperature, primarily with a G1-phase DNA content (temperature arrest). We examined various factors affecting signal transduction for activity which induces DNA synthesis at the restrictive temperature when added to the temperature-arrested cultures of these mutants. The factors examined were theophylline, dibutyryl cyclic AMP, cholera toxin (CT), dibutyryl cyclic GMP, sodium nitroprusside, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, 1-oleoyl 2-acetylglycerol, bombesin, vasopressin, basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF), platelet-derived growth factor, A23187, monensin, epidermal growth factor (EGF), insulin and fetal calf serum (FCS). None of these factors induced DNA synthesis in 3Y1tsH203. In one mutant (3Y1ts121), FGF, EGF and FCS individually induced DNA synthesis. In the other 2 mutants (3Y1tsD123 and 3Y1tsG125), FGF and CT individually induced DNA synthesis. The FGF-induced DNA synthesis was suppressed by islet-activating protein (IAP) in 3Y1tsD123 and 3Y1tsG125, but not in 3Y1tsF121. The CT-induced DNA synthesis was also suppressed by IAP, as previously shown. When temperature-arrested cultures were shifted to a permissive temperature, all 4 mutants initiated DNA synthesis in the presence of IAP. These results suggest that (1) a cell can prepare for the initiation of DNA synthesis by using several independent signal transduction pathways, and (2) in a given situation, the cell uses a particular pathway because of its availability, which depends on the culture conditions.     

Serum-independent regulation of initiation of DNA synthesis relating to temperature-sensitive defect in rat 3Y1tsD123 fibroblasts and its compensation by simian virus 40

Randomly proliferating 3Y1tsD123 cells are arrested in G1 phase within 24 h after a shift up to 39.8 degrees C (temperature arrest), yet the density-arrested cells (prepared at 33.8 degrees C) enter S phase at 39.8 degrees C with serum stimulation, with or without preexposure to 39.8 degrees C for 24 h (Zaitsu and Kimura 1984a). When the density-arrested 3Y1tsD123 cells were preexposed to 39.8 degrees C for 96 h, they lost the ability to enter S phase at 39.8 degrees C by serum stimulation and required a longer lag time to enter S phase at 33.8 degrees C by serum stimulation than did the cells not preexposed to 39.8 degrees C. Simian virus 40 induced cellular DNA synthesis at 39.8 degrees C in the density-arrested 3Y1tsD123 preexposed to 39.8 degrees C for 96 h. In the absence of serum after a shift down to 33.8 degrees C, the temperature-arrested 3Y1tsD123 cells entered S phase and then divided once. We postulate from these results that (1) the ts defect in 3Y1tsD123 is involved in a serum-independent process. Once this process is accomplished, its accomplishment is invalidated slowly with preexposure to 39.8 degrees C. This and the serum-dependent processes occur in parallel but not necessarily simultaneously. The accomplishment of both (all) processes is required for the initiation of S phase. The density-arrested 3Y1tsD123 cells have accomplished the serum-independent process related to the ts defect, but have not accomplished serum-dependent processes. In case of the temperature-arrested 3Y1tsD123 cells, the reverse holds true. The lag time for entry into S phase depends on the preparedness for the initiation of DNA synthesis (on the extent of accomplishment of each of all processes required for entry into S phase). (2) To induce cellular DNA synthesis, simian virus 40 stimulates directly the serum-independent process. However, we do not rule out the possibility that simian virus 40 stimulates serum-dependent processes simultaneously.     

Extensive degradation of mutant-type D123 protein is responsible for temperature-sensitive proliferation inhibition in 3Y1tsD123 cells

A temperature-sensitive mutant of 3Y1, 3Y1tsD123, reversibly arrested in G1 phase of cell cycle at the restrictive temperature of 39.8 degrees C, shows a single amino acid exchange in the D123 protein. In this study, we found that the D123 protein level in 3Y1tsD123, which was 1/8 of that in 3Y1 compared at the permissive temperature of 33.9 degrees C, lowered to 1/4 after a shift to the restrictive temperature. During inhibition of protein synthesis with cycloheximide, the D123 protein level in 3Y1tsD123 decreased markedly depending on the incubation temperature, compared with that in 3Y1, indicating that the lowered levels of D123 protein in 3Y1tsD123 are due to its degradation. Unexpectedly, 2 stably temperature-resistant clones were isolated after transfection of SV-3Y1tsD123 (SV40-transformed 3Y1tsD123, which shows cell death instead of G1 arrest at the restrictive temperature) with the cDNA of the mutant-type (3Y1tsD123-derived) D123 protein. The D123 protein in both clones degraded extensively at both temperatures, suggesting that the overexpression of the mutant-type D123 protein exceeds its degradation. Both temperature-resistant clones contained higher levels of D123 protein at the restrictive temperature than did SV-3Y1tsD123 at the permissive temperature. We concluded that the lowered D123 protein level at the restrictive temperature induces the temperature-sensitive characteristics of 3Y1tsD123 and SV-3Y1tsD123.     

The viral Ki-ras gene must be expressed in the G2 phase if ts Kirsten sarcoma virus-infected NRK cells are to proliferate in serum-free medium.

NRK cells infected with a temperature-sensitive Kirsten sarcoma virus (ts371 KSV) are transformed at 36 degrees C, but are untransformed at 41 degrees C which inactivates the abnormally thermolabile oncogenic p21Ki product of the viral Ki-ras gene. At 41 degrees C, tsKSV-infected NRK cells were arrested in G0/G1 when incubated in serum-free medium, but could then be stimulated to transit G1, replicate DNA, and divide by adding serum at 41 degrees C or dropping the temperature to a p21-activating 36 degrees C without adding serum. When quiescent cells at 41 degrees C were stimulated to transit G1 in serum-free medium by activating p21 at 36 degrees C and then shifted back to the p21-inactivating 41 degrees C in the mid-S phase, they continued replicating DNA but could not transit G2. Reactivating p21 in the G2-arrested cells by once again lowering the temperature to 36 degrees C stimulated a rapid entry into mitosis. By contrast, while serum-stimulated quiescent G0 cells at 41 degrees C replicate DNA and divide, serum did not induce G2-arrested cells to enter mitosis, indicating that serum growth factors may trigger events in the G1 phase that ultimately determine G2 transit. These observations made with the viral ras product suggest that cellular ras proto-oncogene products have a role in G2 transit of normal cells.     

Growth and Maturation of a Vesicular Stomatitis Virus Temperature-Sensitive Mutant and Its Central Nervous System Isolate

A temperature-sensitive (ts) mutant of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), tsG31, produces a prolonged central nervous system disease in mice with pathological features similar to those of slow viral diseases. tsG31 and the subsequent virus recovered from the central nervous system (tsG31BP) of mice infected with tsG31 were compared with the parental wild-type (WT) VSV for plaque morphology, growth kinetics, thermal sensitivity of the virions, and viral protein synthesis and maturation. Several properties of the central nervous system isolate distinguished this virus from the original tsG31 and the WT VSV. The WT VSV produced clear plaques with complete cell lysis, and the tsG31 produced diffuse plaques and incomplete cell lysis, whereas the tsG31BP had clear plaques similar to those of the WT VSV. Although plaque morphology suggested that tsG31BP virus was a revertant to the WT, growth kinetics in either BHK-21 or neuroblastoma (N-18) cells indicated that this virus was similar to tsG31, with a productive cycle at 31 degrees C and no infectious virus at 39 degrees C. At 37 degrees C, however, the tsG31BP matured much slower than did the original tsG31 (and produced only 1% of the yield measured at 31 degrees C). WT VSV produced similar quantities of infectious virions at 31, 37, and 39 degrees C. The lack of infectious virions at 39 degrees C for the ts mutants was presumably not due to a greater rate of inactivation at 39 degrees C. Unlike WT VSV, which synthesized viral proteins equally well at all three temperatures, tsG31 had a reduced synthesis of all the structural proteins at 37 and 39 degrees C, compared with that at 31 degrees C; the formation of the M protein was most temperature sensitive. In addition, fractionation of the infected cells indicated that the incorporation of the M and N proteins into the cellular membranes was also disrupted at the higher, nonpermissive temperatures. Several characteristics of protein synthesis during tsG31BP infection at 39 degrees C distinguished this virus from tsG31: (i) no mature viral proteins were detected at 39 degrees C; (ii) several host proteins were [ill], suggesting that the virus was incapable of completely depressing host macromolecular synthesis; and (iii) a great proportion of the incorporated radioactivity was found in unusually high-molecular-weight proteins. In addition, at 37 degrees C, the tsG31BP virus showed a decreased synthesis of viral proteins and reduced assembly of the viral structural proteins.     

Interaction of v-Ki-ras oncogene and interferon-gamma in the control of histocompatibility antigen expression in mouse fibroblasts

C3H10T1/2 fibroblasts when transformed with Kirsten murine sarcoma virus lose the ability to be induced to express class II major histocompatibility complex antigens when induced with interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma). Sublines were derived from transformed lines by cell sorting after treatment with IFN-gamma, sorting for low or high expression of H-2Ak. These sublines remained stably noninducible or inducible for class II antigen for several passages after sorting. In all other respects tested, viz, sensitivity to IFN-gamma for the generation of an antiviral state or the induction of class I antigen, content of ras gene products, the sorted sublines were very similar. We conclude that ras oncogene expression in these cells can influence the induction of class II antigen but that because ras expression in the sorted lines is similar the effect of ras expression is indirect and presumably involves interaction with other cellular factors.     

Recombination Between Endogenous and Exogenous Simian Virus 40 Genes. II. Biochemical Evidence for Genetic Exchange

The genome of the simian virus 40 (SV40) temperature-sensitive (ts) mutant tsD202 rescued by passage on transformed permissive monkey lines (see accompanying paper [Y. Gluzman et al., J. Virol. 24:534-540, 1977]) was analyzed by restriction endonuclease cleavage mapping to obtain biochemical evidence that the rescue of the ts phenotype results from recombination with the resident SV40 genome of the transformed cell. It was demonstrated that the endonuclease R. HaeIII cleavage site, which is located at 0.9 map unit in the standard viral genome (and which is in the proximity of the known map position of the tsD lesion), is missing in the DNAs of the parental tsD202 virus and of three independent revertants of tsD202. In contrast, this cleavage site was shown to be present in the DNAs of four out of five independently derived rescued D202 populations and in the DNA of the SV40 strain, 777, used to transform the monkey cells. Comparison of the endonuclease R. Hin(II + III) cleavage patterns of SV40 strain 777 DNA and tsD202 DNA revealed differences in the electrophoretic mobilities of Hin fragments A, B, and F. However, the corresponding Hin fragments from all four rescued D202 genomes were identical in their mobilities to those of tsD202 DNA, indicating that these regions of the rescued D202 genome are characteristic of the tsD202 parent. We conclude, therefore, that the genome of the rescued D202 virus is a true recombinant, since it contains restriction endonuclease cleavage sites characteristic of both parents, the endogenous resident SV40 genome of the transformed monkey cells and the exogenous tsD202 mutant.     

Transformation by the k-ras oncogene correlates with increases in phospholipase A2 activity, glycerophosphoinositol production and phosphoinositide synthesis in thyroid cells.

Two cell lines transformed by the k-ras oncogene (KiKi and KiMol cells) and a temperature sensitive clone (Ts), all originated from a normal rat thyroid line (FRTL5 cells), have been employed to analyse the intracellular mechanisms affected by the ras p21. In k-ras transformed cells two phosphoinositide derivatives, glycerophosphoinositol and inositol monophosphate, were markedly increased, whereas inositol bisphosphate and trisphosphate maintained the same level as in normal cells. Cytosolic Ca2+ was also unaffected. This indicates that in epithelial cells the phospholipase C activity is not altered upon ras transformation. The formation of glycerophosphoinositol involved the activation of a phosphoinositide specific phospholipase A2. The higher phospholipase A2 activity in ras transformed cells could be further demonstrated by the increase in total arachidonic acid release. In the Ts clone the increase in glycerophosphoinositol and inositol monophosphate was evident only at the permissive temperature (33 degrees C), whereas it disappeared at 39 degrees C. At 33 degrees C the cells were also characterized by an enriched membrane pool of phosphoinositides. All these changes occurred in parallel with morphological transformation. We propose that cell transformation by the k-ras oncogene affects different steps of the membrane lipid metabolism, among which the most prominent one is the activation of a phosphoinositide specific phospholipase A2. These effects could originate mitogenic metabolites. Moreover, they correlate well with the induction of the malignant phenotype.     

Reversal of transformed phenotype by monoclonal antibodies against Ha-ras p21 proteins

The transforming activities of p21 ras proteins have been determined by micro-injection of these proteins into NIH3T3 cells. In order to facilitate functional studies on the effect of ras proteins on malignant transformation and normal cellular growth, analysis has been made with three monoclonal antibodies (YA6-172, Y13-238 and Y13-259) as originally reported by Furth et al. (J virol 43 (1982) 294). Purified immunoglobulin of Y13-259 has the highest titer of binding to bacterially synthesized p21 ras proteins. Experimental analyses indicate that only Y13-259 antibody will neutralize the transforming activity of the co-injected bacterially synthesized ras protein and the neutralization effect was blocked by co-injection of excess ras protein. In addition, micro-injection of Y13-259 immunoglobulin into transformed NIH3T3 cells (obtained by DNA transfection of NIH3T3 cells with molecularly cloned ras gene) reversed their transformed phenotypes. These results indicate that both bacterially synthesized p21 ras proteins and the natural ras proteins produced in NIH3T3 cells were neutralized by Y13-259 antibody.     

In vitro tumoricidal activity of macrophages against virus-transformed lines with temperature-dependent transformed phenotypic characteristics.

The susceptibility of targets to destruction by tumoricidal rat and mouse macrophages was studied with virus-transformed cell lines in which various elements of the transformed phenotype are only expressed at specific temperatures. BHK cells transformed by the ts3 mutant of polyoma virus, rat embryo 3Y1 cells transformed by a temperature-sensitive A cistron mutant of simian virus 40 (SV40) and the ts-H6-15 temperature-sensitive line of SV40-transformed mouse 3T3 cells were killed in vitro by macrophages at both the permissive (33 °C) or nonpermissive (39 °C) temperatures for expression of the transformed phenotype. 3T3, 3Y1 and BHK cells transformed by wild-type SV40 or polyoma virus were also destroyed by tumoricidal macrophages at both 33 and 39 °C, but untransformed 3T3, 3Y1, and BHK cells were not. Thus, transformed cells are killed by macrophages regardless of whether or not they express cell surface LETS protein or Forssman antigen, display surface changes which permit agglutination by low doses of plant lectins, express SV40 T antigen, have a low saturation density, or exhibit density-dependent inhibition of DNA synthesis.     

Production of non-defective and defective oligomers of viral DNA in mouse 3T3 cells transformed by a thermosensitive mutant of polyoma virus

Cultures of three lines of mouse 3T3 cells transformed independently by the thermosensitive ts-a mutant of polyoma virus yield virus upon lowering their incubation temperature to 31°C. At 31°C, the internal pools of DNA of all three lines contain not only superhelical viral monomers, but also a small proportion of viral oligomers.From one of these three cell lines, several sublines of different clonal morphology were isolated at 38.5°C. The viral DNA synthesized at 31°C by each different subline displayed a unique oligomer pattern which has been stable through many cell passages and further reclonings. In contrast to the parental line, the monomer in most of these sublines is a minor component of the viral DNA pool. In one subline, more than 80% of the viral DNA consists of superhelical molecules about 1.6-times the size of a monomer. The specific infectivity of these molecules is only about one-tenth that of monomers, whereas the efficiency in transforming hamster (BHK21) cells is about twice that of monomers.     

Influence of the deprivation of a single amino acid on cellular proliferation and survival in rat 3Y1 fibroblasts and their derivatives transformed by a wide variety of agents

We compared proliferation and survival of various syngeneic transformed cell lines under conditions of depletion of 15 amino acids in Dulbecco-Eagle's medium. We used a normal fibroblast line 3Y1 and 22 transformed sublines of 3Y1 which had been induced by one of seven transforming agents--simian virus 40, mouse polyomavirus, adenovirus type 12, E1A gene of adenovirus type 12, cDNA of Harvey murine sarcoma virus, Rous sarcoma virus, or N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine. Unlike other untransformed cells examined (mouse BALB/c-3T3 line, mouse NIH-3T3 line, and primary Fischer rat embryo fibroblasts), 3Y1 ceased to proliferate and accumulated in a viable state with a G1-phase DNA content under 14 singular deprivations of amino acid. None of the transformed 3Y1 lines completely arrested in the G1 phase of the cell cycle and each showed different levels of survival, depending on each transforming agent. As for transformed 3Y1 cells induced by a given virus or a given transforming gene, any one of the three sublines shared the same trend with respect to proliferation and survival. Transformed derivatives induced by N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine showed almost the same trend in proliferation, but the patterns of survival were not uniform. Our observations suggest that the unique responses of 3Y1 to amino acid depletion are differently modified by different transforming agents.     

Plasma membrane-targeted ras GTPase-activating protein is a potent suppressor of p21ras function.

Although p21ras is localized to the plasma membrane, proteins it interacts with, such as the GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs) ras GAP and neurofibromin (NF1), are not, suggesting that one function of p21ras GTP may be to target such proteins to the plasma membrane. To investigate the effects of targeting ras GAP to the plasma membrane, ras C-terminal motifs sufficient for plasma membrane localization of p21ras were cloned onto the C terminus of ras GAP. Plasma membrane-targeted ras GAP is growth inhibitory to NIH 3T3 fibroblasts and COS cells. This growth inhibition correlates with GAP catalytic activity, since the plasma membrane-targeted C-terminal catalytic domain or the GAP-related domain of neurofibromin is inhibitory, whereas the similarly targeted N-terminal domain is not. Moreover, the inhibition is abrogated by the inactivating mutation L902I, which abolishes ras GAP catalytic activity. Coexpression of oncogenic mutant ras rescues cell viability, but the majority of rescued colonies are phenotypically untransformed. Furthermore, in focus assays, targeted ras GAP suppresses transformation by oncogenic mutant ras, and in reversion assays, targeted ras GAP can revert cells transformed by oncogenic mutant ras. Neither the targeted or nontargeted N-terminal domain nor the L902I mutant of ras GAP has any transforming activity. These data demonstrate that ras GAP can function as a negative regulator of ras and that plasma membrane localization potentiates this activity. However, if ras GAP is involved in the effector functions of p21ras, it can only be part of the effector complex for cell transformation.