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Sugar effects on murine sarcoma virus transformation

Insights

Carbohydrates like D-mannose affect murine sarcoma virus transformation. Specific sugars repressed hexose uptake in normal mouse cells, altering tumor formation and viral transformation.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Virology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Murine sarcoma virus (MSV) infection leads to enhanced hexose uptake in transformed cells.
  • The role of specific carbohydrates in modulating viral transformation and cellular metabolism is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the influence of different carbohydrates in culture media on MSV-induced fibroblast transformation.
  • To elucidate the mechanisms by which carbohydrates affect hexose uptake and viral transformation.

Main Methods:

  • NIH Swiss mouse fibroblasts were cultured in media supplemented with various carbohydrates (D-mannose, 2-deoxy-D-glucose, D-xylose, L-xylose, L-arabinose, D-galactose).
  • Assessed the number of transformed colonies in vitro and tumor formation in vivo.
  • Measured the uptake of D-glucose, D-mannose, and D-galactose in normal and transformed cells under different carbohydrate conditions.

Main Results:

  • D-mannose and 2-deoxy-D-glucose reduced the number of transformed colonies and tumor formation.
  • These sugars repressed hexose uptake in normal mouse cells, interfering with the characteristic enhancement seen in MSV-infected cells.
  • D-xylose, L-xylose, and L-arabinose derepressed hexose uptake, while D-galactose had an intermediate effect.
  • MSV transformation consistently enhanced hexose uptake beyond levels observed in derepressed control cells, indicating an additional viral mechanism.

Conclusions:

  • The type of carbohydrate in the culture medium significantly influences MSV-induced transformation.
  • Specific carbohydrates can interfere with viral transformation by modulating hexose uptake pathways.
  • MSV infection employs distinct mechanisms to enhance hexose uptake, independent of cellular metabolic states induced by external sugars.

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