Cell-free translation of simian virus 40 early messenger RNA coding for viral T-antigen.

Simian virus 40 (SV40) mRNA was isolated by hybridization of cytoplasmic RNA, from SV40-infected BS-C-1 monkey cells early in lytic infection, to SV40 DNA immobilized on Sepharose. The early viral mRNA, when added to a wheat-germ translation system, directed the synthesis of a unique class of products including a 90,000 molecular weight (Mr) polypeptide. It was found that this 90,000 Mr product as well as a prominent 17,000 Mr polypeptide could be specifically immunoprecipitated with hamster antiserum to SV40 T-antigen, but not with hamster control serum. Similar immunoprecipitation of extracts of SV40-infected cells with hamster anti-T serum yielded 90,000 Mr and 17,000 Mr polypeptides; these polypeptides were not found in immunoprecipitates of uninfected cell extracts. SV40 cRNA, prepared by asymmetric transcription of plaque-purified SV40 DNA, directed the cell-free synthesis of several products, including a 70,000 Mr polypeptide that could be specifically immunoprecipitated with anti-T serum. However, no T-antigen-related polypeptide was found in infected cells that corresponded in size to the major immunoprecipitated cRNA product.