Properties of simian virus 40 small t antigen overproduced in bacteria.

We constructed a series of bacterial plasmids which contained the Escherichia coli lac promoter fused to a simian virus 40 restriction fragment coding for small t antigen. These plasmids expressed different levels of intact viral protein depending on the length of the constructed ribosome binding site. Small t antigen synthesized by the most efficient producer, HP1, constituted 0.5 to 1% of the total cellular protein. On the basis of extensive characterization by immunoprecipitation, gel electrophoresis, isoelectric focusing, tryptic fingerprint analysis, and chromatographic properties, this plasmid-encoded protein was virtually identical to authentic simian virus 40 small t antigen. Partial purification of the HP1-encoded and authentic small t antigens revealed the presence of both monomeric and multimeric forms.