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E K Wagner

Publications and source records attributed to E K Wagner.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Characterization of herpes simplex virus type 1 RNA present in the absence of de novo protein synthesis.

We used herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) DNA and restriction fragments of HSV-1 DNA covalently coupled to cellulose as a reagent to isolate for further characterization the major and minor HSV-1 immediate-early mRNA species in HeLa cells infected and maintained in the absence of de novo protein synthesis. Five major and several minor immediate-early mRNA species were characterized. One major species was a 4.2-kilobase mRNA mapping in the TR(S)/IR(S) region with its 3' end distal to the U(S) region; this mRNA encoded a 170,000-dalton polypeptide in vitro. A 2.8-kilobase mRNA, encoding a 120,000-dalton polypeptide, was mapped in the TR(L)/IR(L) region with its 3' end directed toward the U(L) region. Three 1.8-kilobase mRNA species were mapped. One, mapping in the IR(S) region with its 3' end in the U(S), encoded a 68,000-dalton polypeptide. One mapped in the TR(S) region and had its 3' end in the U(S) region; the third one encoded a 64,000-dalton polypeptide and mapped in the U(L) region near the IR(L) region. One minor species 5.2 kilobases in size was clearly detectable mapping in the U(L) region. Furthermore, there were indications that one or more immediate-early mRNA species approximately 3 kilobases in size hybridized to regions near the TR(L) and in or near the TR(S)/IR(S) regions. Nuclear immediate-early RNA mapped only in those regions where polyribosomal immediate-early mRNA mapped, although minor differences were seen. Finally, we demonstrated that at least three major immediate-early mRNA's-4.2 kilobases, 2.8 kilobases, and the 1.8-kilobase one mapping in the IR(S)/U(S) region-continued to appear on polyribosomes as functional mRNA late after infection.

Genes, Viral↗

Viral nucleic acid synthesis in HSV infected neural cells.

HSV-1 replication and synthesis of viral DNA and RNA have been examined in gliomas of human (COX) and rat origin (C6) and in mouse neuroblastomas (D2). COX cells fully support HSV-1 replication and show patterns of viral DNA and RNA synthesis similar to those seen in continuous line cells. HSV-1 also grows to high titers in D2 cells but without concomitant high levels of viral DNA and RNA synthesis in the infected cells. Finally, HSV-1 established a persistent infection in C6 cells. Viral mRNA and DNA synthesis could not be detected in these cultures. At cycles of approximately 15--20 days, the persistently infected cultures exhibited massive CPE and relatively high production of infectious HSV.

Animals↗

Isolation and localization of herpes simplex virus type 1 mRNA.

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) DNA bound to cellulose has been used as a reagent to isolate viral mRNA for size analysis on denaturing agarose gels. Total viral polysomal polyadenylated RNA was isolated from cells late after infection when such RNA has sequences encoded by approximately 45% of the HSV DNA. This RNA has a size range of from 1.5 to greater than or equal to 8 kilobases, with certain sizes, such as 1.7 to 1.9 kilobases, being favored. We have used the restriction endonucleases HindIII and XbaI singly and together to generate various sized fragments covering the entire HSV-1 genome. These fragments have been bound to cellulose to allow isolation of HSV-1 mRNA annealing to different regions of the viral genome. Discrete sizes of viral mRNA are associated with certain regions of the genome, but the mRNA population hybridizing to even the smallest restriction fragments is complex. We used hybridization of size-fractionated RNA to Southern blots of restriction fragments of HSV-1 DNA generated by the BglII as well as HindIII and XbaI endonucleases to confirm the preparative hybridization data and to provide some overlap data for positioning transcripts. The data of blot and preparative hybridization agreed very well and were combined to construct a preliminary transcription map of HSV-1. Such a map revealed at least two areas of the long unique region of the HSV-1 genome which annealed to a large number of HSV-1 transcripts. Furthermore, discrete-sized mRNA species larger than 5 kilobases in length were found only in the middle of the long unique region. The implications of these data are discussed.

DNA Restriction Enzymes↗

Isolation and localization of herpes simplex virus type 1 mRNA abundant before viral DNA synthesis.

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) DNA covalently bound to cellulose was used as a reagent to isolate viral RNA transcripts for size analysis on denaturing agarose gels. Nuclear and polyribosomal RNA isolated at 2 h postinfection (p.i.) migrated with sizes between 1,500 and 5,500 nucleotides. At 6 h p.i. (when viral DNA synthesis is underway), viral polyribosome-associated polyadenylated RNA showed different discrete sizes of species predominating, with RNA larger than 5,500 nucleotides clearly present. Nearly 50% of the newly made viral RNA found in the nucleus at 6 h p.i. was from 5,000 to 10,000 nucleotides in length. A high-resolution transcription map of the viral mRNA abundant at 2 h p.i. was compiled from the hybridization of Southern blots of HSV-1 DNA restriction fragments to both sizes of fractionated polyribosomal polyadenylated RNA and 3' complementary DNA probe made to this size of fractionated RNA. We have identified and mapped 16 mRNA species abundant at 2 h p.i. These RNAs range in size from 1,500 to 5,300 nucleotides and map throughout the HSV-1 genome. In some instances, a direction of transcription can be suggested. Further, about one-third of this number of mRNA's has been found in cells infected with a DNA-negative temperature-sensitive mutant (tsB2) and grown at the nonpermissive temperature (39 degrees C).

Cell Nucleus↗

Mapping early transcripts of herpes simplex virus type 1 by electron microscopy.

RNA displacement loop patterns in intact herpes simplex virus DNA and herpes simplex virus DNA restriction fragments indicate that viral RNA associated with polyribosomes early after infection is transcribed from three major areas of the genome. One area of early transcription is in the short segment of the viral DNA and is roughly delineated by the inverted repeat sequences bounding this segment. The other two areas of early mRNA transcription map in the long segment. Each of three major areas of early mRNA transcription can be further resolved into several regions of freqent looping bordered by regions in which RNA displacement loops are rare. These regions range in size from about 1.5 kilobases to about 9 kilobases with a mean size of about 3.5 kilobases. Although the data do not allow precise assignment of individual early gene locations, it is seen, even at the lowest level of resolution, that the early genes are not completely contiguous but are distributed along the length of the herpes simplex type 1 viral genome.

DNA Restriction Enzymes↗

Quantitation of herpes simplex virus type 1 RNA in infected HeLa cells.

We have quantitatively analyzed the size and amount of herpes simplex virus (HSV)-specific RNA synthesized in HeLa cells using DNA and RNA excess hybridization. At 2 h after infection (early), transcripts from 20% of the total HSV DNA are present on polyribosomes as poly(A+) RNA. At this time, viral poly(A+) RNA comprises 60 to 75% of the newly synthesized poly(a+) mRNA on polyribosomes. By 6 h after infection (late), poly(A+) HSV RNA transcribed from 35 to 40% of the viral DNA is found on polyribosomes. These viral poly(A+) transcripts comprised as much as 90% of newly synthesized poly(A+) mRNA and are measurably larger than viral poly(A+) transcripts isolated early. Some but not all of this size difference is due to the fact that the poly(A) tails on early transcripts are shorter than those found on transcripts made late. Even late after infection, a small but readily measurable amount of cellular poly(A+) RNA is still being made and entering polyribosome complexes. In the nucleus, late after infection, poly(A+) HSV RNA is complementary to 50% of the total HSV DNA. Both early and late after infection, total nuclear viral transcripts are, on the average, larger than viral transcripts found on polyribosomes; however, nuclear HSV poly(A+) RNA is not measureably larger than the corresponding cytoplasmic viral poly(A+) sequences at either time. A major portion (30 to 40%) of the polyribosomal HSV RNA made either early or late after infection is not polyadenylated. This HSV poly (A-) RNA is transcribed from the same sequences as HSV poly(A+) RNA but, when labeled and isolated either early or late after infection, both nuclear and polyribosomal viral poly(A-) RNA molecules sediment faster in sucrose-formaldehyde gradients than their polyadenylated counterparts.

Base Sequence↗

5'-Terminal and internal methylated nucleosides in herpes simplex virus type 1 mRNA.

RNA labeled with [methyl-3H]methionine and/or [32P]orthophosphate was isolated from the polyribosomes of herpes simplex virus (HSV) types 1-infected cells and separated into polyadenylylated [poly(A+)]and non-polyadenylylated [poly(A-)] fractions. Virus-specific RNA was obtained by hybridization in liquid to either excess HSV DNA or filters containing immobilized HSV DNA. Analysis in denaturing sucrose gradients indicated that HSV-specific poly(A+) RNA sedimented in a broad peak, with a modal S value of 20. The ratio of [3H]methyl to 32P decreased with increasing size of RNA, suggesting that each RNA chain contains a similar sumber of methyl groups. Further analysis indicated an average of one RNase-resistant structure of the type m7G(5')pppNmpNp or m7G(5')pppNmpNmpNp per 2,780 nucleotides. The following components were identified in the 5'-terminal oligonucleotides of polyribosome-associated HSV-specific poly(A+) and poly(A-) RNA: 7-methylguanosine, N6,2'-O-dimethyladenosine, and the 2'-O-methyl derivatives of guanosine, adenosine, uridine, and denosine, and the 2'-O-methyl derivatives of guanosine, adenosine, uridine, and cytidine. The most common 5'-terminal sequences were m7G(5')pppm6Am and m7G(5')pppGm. An additional modified nucleoside, N6-methyladenosine, was present in an internal position of HSV-specific RNA.

Adenosine↗

Variation in the molecular size of the DNA from closely related strains of type I herpes simplex virus.

We have investigated the comparative genome size of five strains of HSV type 1 (HSV-1). Two of these strains have a common origin and differ in their plaque morphology on HeLa cells, one strain is a wild type isolate, and two others are established laboratory strains. All strains show high sequence homology based on the melting behavior of heteroduplexes. The greatest sequence divergence between any two strains was found to be no more than 10%. There are real differences in the size of the genomes of these strains of HSV-1 as measured by electron microscopy. The shortest and largest genomes measured differ in size by 10%, however, the size of the genomes of all strains are within 5% of a median valve of 87-88X106.

Base Sequence↗

Xeroderma pigmentosum cells contain low levels of photoreactivating enzyme.

Fibroblasts from patients with xeroderma pigmentosum contain low levels of photoreactivating enzyme in comparison to normal cells. Levels vary from 0 (line 1199) to 50 (line 1259) percent of normal. The depressed enzyme levels are not an artifact of low growth rate, age of cell donor, cell culture conditions, assay conditions, the presence of inhibitors, or mycoplasma contamination. We show that human fibroblasts can monomerize pyrimidine dimers in vivo.

Cell Line↗

Physicochemical characterization of Novikoff hepatoma mitochondrial DNA.

Mitochondrial DNA's (mtDNA) isolated from rat liver and the Novikoff hepatoma grown as both solid tumors and cells in monolayer culture were examined by a variety of physicochemical techniques. Buoyant densities in analytical CsCl equilibrium gradients and thermal denaturation profiles revealed no significant differences in base composition among the mtDNA's isolated from liver, tumor, and hepatoma cells. Sedimentation in neurtral and alkaline CsCl showed no differences in mtDNA size. However, tumor and hepatoma cell mtDNA's were slightly smaller and more heterogeneous in size than liver mtDNA when molecular contour lengths were measured in the electron microscope. Based on chemical determinations, neoplastic mitochondria contained four to five times more DNA per mitochondrion than liver. Also, electron microscopy showed the proportion of mtDNA in complex forms (catenated dimers and oligomers) to be much higher in tumor (18%) and hepatoma cells (15%) than liver (4%).

Animals↗

Transcription of the herpes simplex virus genome in human cells.

We have examined the details of the transcription of the herpes simplex virus (HSV) genome in HeLa cells using deoxyribonucleic acid-ribonucleic acid (DNA-RNA) hybridization. The following findings are reported. (i) Virus-specific RNA (vRNA) synthesized following onset of HSV-DNA replication (L-vRNA) is complementary to as much as 90% of the HSV genome. (ii) There is no significant class of virus-specific RNA synthesized later than L-vRNA. (iii) The vRNA synthesized prior to HSV-DNA replication (E-vRNA) is composed of two classes; one class comprising 75% of the total E-vRNA is found in large amounts as early as 45 min after infection, whereas the other class making up the other 25% of E-vRNA is found in only small amounts at 1.5 hr after infection. This second class of E-vRNA is found in amounts comparable to the first by 3.5 hr after infection. (iv) Inhibition of HSV-DNA synthesis results in the continued synthesis of E-vRNA, but there is no synthesis of L-vRNA. (v) Finally, there is no class of vRNA found in the nucleus that is not found associated with cytoplasmic polyribosomes either early or late after infection.

Base Sequence↗