Oncogenic adenovirus as mutagen for chinese hamster cells in vitro

Oncogenic bovine adenovirus (BAV3) was shown to induce chromosome aberrations and gene mutations to 6-mercaptopurine (6MP) resistance in Chinese hamster cells. BAV3 showed the highest mutagenic effect at the chromosome level 12--24 h postinfection. After 48 h the yield of aberrations dropped to the control level, where it remained after 72 and 96 h. BAV3 showed a highly significant induction of mutations to 6MP resistance 48 h postinfection. The effect of the combined treatment of cells with 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) and BAV3 on mutagenesis at chromosome and gene levels proved to be synergistic. The mutagenic activity at the gene level of BAV3, along with the earlier established mutagenic effect of SV40, indicates that this property is probably inherent in many DNA-containing oncogenic viruses. The possible mechanisms underlying malignant transformation and mutagenesis are discussed.