Increase in cellular RNA in cells infected with DNA oncogenic viruses

The amount of RNA per cell has been measured by flow microfluorometry in cultured cells stimulated by serum or infected with DNA oncogenic viruses (SV40, polyoma virus, and adenovirus). While all four agents stimulate, although to a different extent, cellular DNA synthesis in quiescent cells, the accumulation of cellular RNA varies. Serum, SV40, and polyoma virus cause a marked increase in total cellular RNA that is already apparent in G1 cells before entry into S. On the other hand, adenovirus 2, while capable of stimulating cellular DNA synthesis, fails to detectably increase the amount of RNA per cell. These results suggest that adenovirus 2 may act on quiescent cells through mechanisms different from those of serum, SV40, or polyoma virus.