SV40 chromatin structure is not essential for viral gene expression.

The biological activity and the fate of SV40 DNA (minichromosomes, DNA I, DNA II, DNA III) were tested in culture cells by immunofluorescence staining and blot analysis. Following microinjection of 2-4 circular SV40 molecules (minichromosomes, DNA I, DNA II) into the cytoplasm or the nuclei of monkey and rat cells, T- and V-antigen synthesis was demonstrable in nearly every recipient cell. Only linear DNA induced T-antigen synthesis with a very low efficiency after cytoplasmic injection. This low activity correlates with a rapid degradation of DNA III in the recipient cells. Further modifications observed immediately after injection are relaxation of superhelical molecules and formation of high-Mr DNA. Assembly of the injected DNA into SV40 chromatin-like structure, however, occurred only late after early viral gene expression.