PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

G G Carmichael

Publications and source records attributed to G G Carmichael.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

A polyoma mutant that encodes small T antigen but not middle T antigen demonstrates uncoupling of cell surface and cytoskeletal changes associated with cell transformation.

The hr-t gene of polyoma virus encodes both the small and middle T (tumor) antigens and exerts pleiotropic effects on cells. By mutating the 3' splice site for middle T mRNA, we have constructed a virus mutant, Py808A, which fails to express middle T but encodes normal small and large T proteins. The mutant failed to induce morphological transformation or growth in soft agar, but did stimulate postconfluent growth of normal cells. Cells infected by Py808A became fully agglutinable by lectins while retaining normal actin cable architecture and normal levels of extracellular fibronectin. These properties of Py808A demonstrated the separability of structural changes at the cell surface from those in the cytoskeleton and extracellular matrix, parameters which have heretofore been linked in the action of the hr-t and other viral oncogenes.

Actins↗

Carboxy terminus of polyoma middle-sized tumor antigen is required for attachment to membranes, associated protein kinase activities, and cell transformation.

We have constructed a transformation-defective polyoma virus mutant (Py 1387-T) that directs the synthesis of a normal small tumor antigen, a functional large tumor antigen, and a truncated (51,000-dalton) middle-sized tumor (mT) antigen that lacks 37 amino acids at its COOH terminus. The shortened mT polypeptide is missing the hydrophobic "tail" thought to be responsible for the anchorage of this protein into the plasma membrane and is in fact in cytosol fractions. This truncated mT polypeptide is inactive in an in vitro protein kinase assay and is altered in its phosphorylation in vivo. Mutant 1387-T differs from wild-type virus in having a T.A base pair instead of a C.G base at nucleotide position 1387. This change was introduced into viral DNA by using a synthetic undecanucleotide as a specific mutagen. Wild-type polyoma DNA was rendered single stranded by molecular cloning into coliphage M13. The oligonucleotide, which hybridizes with a mismatch at the site to be altered, was used to prime the synthesis of double-stranded closed circular DNA. Progeny recombinant phage were screened by DNA sequence analysis for the desired base change. The polyoma mutant was reconstructed from recombinant phage replicative form DNA molecules containing the mutation.

Animals↗

DNA sequence alterations in Hr-t deletion mutants of polyoma virus.

We have investigated the DNA sequence alterations in several hr-t mutants of polyoma virus. These mutants are defective in one of the two known viral functions essential for transformation and are altered with respect to several minor T antigen species. The lesions in some of these mutants have been mapped previously by marker rescue experiments to Hpa II fragment 4 (Hpa II-4, 78.4--91.7 map units) in the proximal part of the early region of the viral DNA. Thirteen of sixteen hr-t mutants examined carry deletions 2 to 5 map units (100--250 bp) long in Hpa 11-4. Three mutants carry either point mutations or very small deletions/insertions. Eight of the deletion mutants were mapped closely with restriction enzymes. Seven of them have deletions located entirely within the Hae III subfragment A of Hpa II-4 (the Hae A subfragment, 78.4--85.2 map units), and one extends just beyond this subfragment, ending at 85.5 map units. The complete sequence of the wild-type Hae A subfragment was determined and compared with those of four deletion mutants, NG-18, A-8, 6B5 and B-2. The deletion in each of these mutants is out-of-phase: NG-18, 187 bp; A-8, 127 bp; 6B-5, 179 bp; B-2, 241 bp. All are expected to remove protein sequences in the C terminal part of the small t antigen.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Analysis of single- and double-stranded nucleic acids on polyacrylamide and agarose gels by using glyoxal and acridine orange.

We have developed a simple and rapid system for the denaturation of nucleic acids and their subsequent analysis by gel electrophoresis. RNA and DNA are denatured in 1 M glyoxal (ethanedial) and 50% (vol/vol) dimethyl sulfoxide, at 50 degrees. The glyoxalated nucleic acids are then subjected to electrophoresis through either acrylamide or agarose gels in a 10 mM sodium phosphate buffer at pH 7.0. When glyoxalated DNA molecules of known molecular weights are used as standards, accurate molecular weights for RNA are obtained. Furthermore, we have employed the metachromatic stain acridine orange for visualization of nucleic acids in gels. This dye interacts differently with double- and single-stranded polynucleotides, fluorescing green and red, respectively. By using these techniques, native and denatured DNA and RNA molecules can be analyzed on the same slab gel.

Acridines↗

Immunochemical analysis of the functions of the subunits of phage Qbeta ribonucleic acid replicase.

We have prepared rabbit gamma-globulins specifically directed against each of the bacterial host proteins required for the in vitro replication of RNA phage Qbeta RNA: the protein synthesis elongation factors EF-Tu and EF-Ts, the 30 S ribosomal protein S1, and the Qbeta "host factor". We have used these antibodies as specific probes to study the roles that these polypeptides play in the in vitro replication of Qbeta RNA by the Qbeta replicase as well as the poly(C)-directed synthesis of poly(G) by this enzyme. The poly(C)-directed reaction is much less sensitive to antibody inhibition than is the Qbeta RNA-directed reaction.

Animals↗

Isolation of bacterial and phage proteins by homopolymer RNA-cellulose chromatography.

Nucleic acid-free extracts of Escherichia coli have been analyzed by chromatography on columns of cellulose, to which poly(A), poly(U), or poly(C) have been attached by ultraviolet irradiation. Proteins are released from the columns by stepwise elution with increasingly higher concentrations of salt, followed by washing with urea to remove very tightly bound molecules. The pattern of protein elution is reproducibly different for each of the homopolymer RNA-cellulose columns used: some proteins bind very tightly to one column, but poorly to others. Analysis by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide slab gel electrophoresis, by immunological cross-reactivity in double diffusion tests, and by enzymological assays, has allowed the identification of a number of these proteins. The RNA polymerase core enzyme binds to poly(C)- and to poly(U)-cellulose columns, and can be purified to 20 to 30 percent homogeneity in a single step. Ribosomal protein S1 and the termination factor rho bind very tightly to poly(C)-cellulose, and both can be purified to homogeneity rapidly, in much higher yields than previously reported. Poly(A)-cellulose chromatography allows the isolation of large amounts of an 80,000 molecular weight protein having an as yet unassigned cellular function. The host factor required for RNA phage Qbeta RNA replication in vitro can also be obtained from poly(A)-cellulose, and chromatography of extracts of phage Qbeta-infected E. coli on RNA-cellulose columns results in very rapid isolation of the Qbeta replicase enzyme. Homopolymer RNA-cellulose chromatography thus appears to be a simple, general technique, useful for the efficient isolation of a variety of RNA-binding proteins.

Bacterial Proteins↗

The host factor required for RNA phage Qbeta RNA replication in vitro. Intracellular location, quantitation, and purification by polyadenylate-cellulose chromatography.

The Qbeta host factor, a heat-stable protein necessary in concert with Qbeta replicase for phage Qbeta RNA replication in vitro, has been localized in Escherichia coli and found to be associated primarily with ribosomes. This location has been established both by complement fixation assays with highly specific antiserum directed against the host factor, and by in vitro stimulation of Qbeta RNA replication by the Qbeta replicase. The complement fixation assay has provided the estimate that there are approximately 2500 copies of the host factor polypeptide per cell. The host factor is released from the ribosomes by a 1 M NH4Cl wash and concentrated by ammonium sulfate precipitation. It can be purified to apparent homogeneity in one further step by chromatography on poly(A)-cellulose. Ribosomal protein S1 subunit I of Qbeta replicase) also binds to the poly(A)-cellulose column and elutes before the host factor. In agreement with previous reports, we find that the host factor has a monomer molecular weight of 12,000 as judged by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels, and a native molecular weight of 72,000 as judged by the stoichiometric interaction of the host factor with Qbeta RNA, by sedimentation in sucrose velocity gradients, and by sodium dodecyl sulfate gel mobility when incompletely disaggregated. The Qbeta host factor is a potent inhibitor of an in vitro poly(A)-directed polylysine protein-synthesizing system, but has less effect on the in vitro translation of poly(U), R17 RNA, late T7 mRNA, or endogenous E. coli mRNA. The amino acid composition and NH2- terminal sequence rule out the host factor as one of the known 30 S or 50 S E. coli ribosomal proteins. The finding that the Qbeta host factor is associated with ribosomes in vivo completes the demonstration that all of the host-supplied proteins required for phage Qbeta RNA replication in vitro are either associated with ribosomes or are involved in the protein-synthetic machinery of the cell.

Animals↗