Interaction of partially purified simian virus 40 T antigen with circular viral DNA molecules

Mixing chromatographic fractions containing simian virus 40 (SV40) T antigen with SV40 [3H]-DNA I (double-stranded, circular, supercoiled) results in the conversion of the nucleic acid to a form that will bind to a nitrocellulose filter. Unlabeled SV40 DNA I successfully competes with this reaction. Under the conditions employed, the antigen-containing fractions bind a variety of circular, viral DNA molecules. Chromatography of the antigen in three systems reveals that the T immunoreactivity migrates with DNA binding activity. In a kinetic heat inactivation experiment, the antigenic reactivity disappears simultaneously with the DNA binding activity. The data indicate the presence of a discernible DNA binding activity in fractions containing T antigen and suggest that the T antigen is the DNA binding protein being measured.