HSV- and chemical carcinogen-induced amplification of SV40 DNA sequences in transformed cells is cell-line-dependent.

Eleven simian virus 40-transformed cell lines from 5 different species were tested for their ability to amplify integrated simian virus 40 DNA upon infection with herpes simplex virus type I or treatment with various chemical carcinogens. Four cell lines were positive only for virus-induced gene amplification and two lines were positive for both carcinogen- and virus-induced gene amplification. Individual cell lines were assayed for the presence of an intact SV40 origin of replication, the expression of a functional SV40 T-antigen, and permissivity to herpes simplex virus replication. These parameters were found to be positive in all 6 amplification-competent cell lines. The ability of herpes simplex virus to amplify SV40 DNA sequences in transformed cells is greater than that of chemical carcinogens and can be suppressed by specific inhibitors of the herpes virus-encoded DNA polymerase.