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Absence of a cell membrane alteration function in non-transforming mutants of polyoma virus
Abstract:
A surface receptor for an agglutinin, exposed in transformed but not in normal cells, arises in normal mouse cells during lytic infection by polyoma virus. The structural change in the surface membrane characteristic of transformed cells and of cells productively infected by wild type virus fails to occur in normal mouse cells infected by mutants of the virus that are unable to cause transformation. The exposure of the receptor site by wild type virus is reversibly blocked by inhibitors of DNA synthesis.
Insights
Polyoma virus infection exposes a surface receptor in normal mouse cells, a change seen in transformed cells. This viral-induced receptor exposure is blocked by DNA synthesis inhibitors.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Transformed cells exhibit altered surface membranes with exposed agglutinin receptors.
- Normal cells do not display these surface receptor changes under normal conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of polyoma virus infection in altering cell surface receptors.
- To determine if viral transformation is necessary for the exposure of agglutinin receptors.
Main Methods:
- Infection of normal mouse cells with wild type and mutant polyoma viruses.
- Observation of surface membrane changes and receptor exposure.
- Treatment with DNA synthesis inhibitors.
Main Results:
- Lytic infection by polyoma virus induces a surface receptor for agglutinin in normal mouse cells.
- Mutant viruses incapable of transformation do not induce these characteristic membrane changes.
- Inhibitors of DNA synthesis reversibly block the exposure of the receptor site.
Conclusions:
- Polyoma virus infection can induce transformation-like surface changes in normal cells.
- Viral DNA synthesis is implicated in the exposure of specific surface receptors.
- The exposed receptor is a marker associated with viral transformation and infection.