Single strand DNA binding of simian virus 40 tumor antigen

Simian virus 40 T antigen binds to both single and double strand DNA. The single and double strand DNA binding activity of crude T antigen preparations was evaluated by chromatography of the antigen on DNA-cellulose columns. Crude T antigen was retained on both native and denatured DNA-cellulos columns and was eluted from both columns under similar conditions. The interaction of highly purified T antigen with single and double strand DNA was evaluated by competition experiments using a DNA filter binding assay. These experiments showed that T antigen binds preferentially to single strand calf thymus DNA by more than an order of magnitude when compared to double strand calf thymus DNA.