Nucleotide sequence deletions within the coding region for small-t antigen of simian virus 40

Simian virus 40 early mutants with deletions mapping in the 0.53-0.60 region have been sequenced by the Maxam and Gilbert approach. All these deletions effect the small-t gene. The size of the shortened small-t-related polypeptides produced by several of the mutants has been compared with the molecular weight as deduced from the nucleotide sequence. There was good agreement for the mutants dl890, dl891, and dl2102. For dl2121 and dl2122 the small-t-related protein was considerably larger than expected. It is possible to explain this result on the basis of the nucleotide sequence: the normal splicing event of the small-t mRNA still occurs, but as the deletion shifts the reading frame, translation of the small-t-related polypeptide continues beyond the small-t splice, but in a different reading frame than large-T. Mutants dl883, dl884, and dl2112 have lost one of the small-t splicing boundaries, and no (or minute amonts of) small-t-related protein has been observed in mutant-infected cells. The possible relationship between splicing and transport of polyadenylic acid-containing mRNA from the nucleus to the cytoplasm in vertebrae cells is discussed.