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N Chenciner

Publications and source records attributed to N Chenciner.

28 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Transcription of the hepatitis B surface antigen gene in mouse cells transformed with cloned viral DNA.

Mouse L cells transformed with recombinant plasmids carrying hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA fragments were used to study the transcription of the viral surface antigen gene (gene S). An HBV-specific, polyadenylated, 2.3-kilobase RNA was mapped on the HBV genome. This RNA hybridized with approximately 75% of the genome and excluded the region of the HBV core antigen gene (gene C). The 2.3-kilobase RNA species was present only in cell lines that produced hepatitis B surface antigen. An HBV-specific 2.3-kilobase RNA was also detected in human hepatoma cell line PLC/PRF/5 which produced hepatitis B surface antigen. A study of gene S expression in the transformed mouse L cells allowed us to localize the regions of initiation and termination of gene S transcription. Our results strongly suggest that the 2.3-kilobase RNA molecule is the mRNA of the major polypeptide of the envelope, which carries the viral surface antigen determinants.

Animals↗

Lack of association between BK virus and ependymomas, malignant tumors of pancreatic islets, osteosarcomas and other human tumors.

BK virus (BKV) DNA sequences were not detected in 142 human tumors analyzed by DNA-DNA reassociation kinetics and blot hybridization. The investigation was focused mainly on those rare types of human tumors (ependymomas, choroid plexus papillomas, tumors of pancreatic islets and osteosarcomas) that are induced with highest frequency by BKV in experimental animals. In addition, other tumors of the urinary apparatus and of the central nervous system were analyzed. BKV tumor (T) antigen was not detected in neoplastic tissues, and BKV T antibodies were not found in sera and cerebrospinal fluids from patients with neoplasms. Sequences homologous to BKV DNA were found in normal tissue from a kidney carrying a carcinoma. The neoplastic tissue from the same organ, however, had no sequences homologous to BKV DNA. Such DNA does not belong to BKV but probably to another papovavirus related to BKV.

Antibodies, Viral↗

Integrated and free viral DNA in hamster tumors induced by BK virus.

BK virus (BKV)-induced tumors in hamsters were investigated for the presence of viral DNA by the blot-transfer hybridization technique. Several viral genomes per cell were found in tumor tissues and in their derived cell lines and clones. Most of the detected viral genomes were integrated into the cellular DNA, but some tumors also contained free viral DNA sequences. Integration patterns were different from each other, and many different integration sites were available on the cellular or on the viral DNA or on both. Typical features of integration patterns were found in ependymomas, which were the most frequent (72%) among BKV-induced tumors. Readily detectable viral DNA sequences were only found in neoplastic tissues, but traces of BKV DNA were also present in the apparently normal portion of the brain of an animal that had developed an ependymoma and in the brain (but not in the liver) of another animal 15 days after virus inoculation. A cell line and a single-cell clone derived from a tumor had hybridization patterns considerably simpler that the pattern of the original tumor, lacking several integrated viral genomes and all free viral sequences.

Adenoma, Islet Cell↗

Transcription of nucleosomal DNA in SV40 minichromosomes by eukaryotic and prokaryotic RNA polymerases.

SV 40 minichromosomes can be transcribed by prokaryotic and eukaryotic RNA polymerases. Size analysis of transcripts indicated that DNA in nucleosomes was accessible for transcription by both enzymes. Sedimentation of the transcription complex showed that minichromosomes which were being transcribed had a full complement of nucleosomes. Strand selection by E. coli RNA polymerase was reduced by the presence of nucleosomes. No region of SV 40 DNA was preferentially transcribed on minichromosomes by either enzyme.

Animals↗

Restriction fragment analysis of bacteriophage SPP1 in vitro transcription by host RNA polymerase.

In vitro transcription of SPP1 DNA occurred on only one of the two strands, the same which is predominantly transcribed in SPP1-infected cells. Transcripts were distributed in several size classes. Analysis of elongation kinetics and of size distribution, coupled with hybridization to DNA restriction fragments, showed that some regions of the template have more initiation sites than others; some have none. Some regions were transcribed directly, some were transcribed from initiation sites located in other regions, and one was never transcribed. Several transcription initiation sites on SPP1 DNA are located on EcoRI fragment 1; four to five others are distributed among other fragments. Cutting the DNA with EcoRI did not introduce artifactual initiation sites. In vitro transcription units can be localized and oriented with respect to the EcoRI restriction map of SPP1 DNA.

Bacillus subtilis↗

Residual expression of reporter genes in constructs mimicking HIV genome organization.

Plasmids were constructed whereby the expression of a reporter gene, either the cDNA corresponding to the secreted form of human alkaline phosphatase (SEAP) or the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV1) thymidine kinase (tk) gene, was rendered dependent upon the expression of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV1) tat and rev proteins. The SEAP or tk genes were placed between HIV1 splice donor and acceptor sites. One SEAP construct carried a series of alternating splice donor and acceptor sites. In all cases, the rev response element mapped within an intron. Despite such mimicry of the HIV1 genome, residual expression of the reporter gene in the absence of tat and rev was observed. These results, as well as non-specific T-cell recruitment, suggest limits to the specificity of using HIV-activated toxic gene expression to kill HIV-infected cells.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗