The relationship between group C adenovirus tumor antigen and the adenovirus single-strand DNA-binding protein.

The group C adenoviruses code for a single-strand specific DNA-binding protein of molecular weight 72,000 daltons which is synthesized at early times after productive viral infection. Experiments were designed to determine whether this single-strand specific DNA-binding protein was expressed in adenovirus tumors and transformed cells. Two independently derived preparations of anti-sera from hamsters bearing group C adenovirus tumors were tested for antibody against the single-stranded DNA-binding proteins. One antiserum contained antibodies that reacted with these DNA-binding proteins, while the second antiserum did not contain detectable levels of antibody. Five adenovirus type 2 transformed rat cell lines were tested for the presence of the single-stranded specific DNA-binding proteins. Two of the five transformed cells expressed detectable levels of this protein. These results indicate that the group C adenovirus single-strand specific DNA-binding proteins are expressed in some, but not all, adenovirus tumors and transformed cell lines. Those transformed cell lines (type 2) containing a portion of the adenovirus genome designated by the Eco R-I-B restriction enzyme fragment express the single-strand specific DNA-binding proteins. Those cell lines missing this Eco R-I-B fragment do not contain this viral protein. Other experiments have located the structural gene of the signle-strand specific DNA-binding protein in the Eco-R-I-B DNA fragment, indicating that when this gene is present in a transformed cell, it is expressed.