# INVOLVEMENT OF T ANTIGEN IN SV40 LATE GENE EXPRESSION

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON · 1988 · $94,390

## Abstract

The long-term objective of the proposed research is to understand at the
molecular level the roles played by large T antigen in regulating late gene
expression of SV40.  During this grant, we will test the validity of a
number of hypotheses relating to this general problem.  Specifically, we
will:  (i) determine whether large T antigen is required for late strand
RNA synthesis by looking for this RNA in cells infected with a mutant of
SV40 that does not encode this protein; (ii) determine whether late strand
RNA synthesis can occur in the absence of viral DNA replication by testing
with appropriate restriction endonucleases whether replication-defective
mutants that synthesize this RNA in monkey cells and Xenopus oocytes are
truly unable to undergo even a single round of viral DNA replication; (iii)
determine whether large T antigen directly enhances synthesis of late
strand RNA via its interactions with promoter-regulatory region sequences
on the viral genome by examining a variety of T antigen-defective and
promoter-regulatory region mutants for their ability to make late strand
RNA; (iv) determine by S1 mapping of the 5' ends of the RNAs made in WT-
and tsA58-infected cells whether T antigen-induced changes occur during the
lytic cycle in the transcription initiation sites used for late strand RNA
synthesis; and (v) determine whether a late strand transcriptional
"attenuator" exists in SV40 by looking by S1 mapping for the presence of
small RNAs with appropriate 3' ends in (a) WT- and mutant-infected monkey
cells at various times after infection; and (b) Xenopus oocytes injected
with WT and mutant SV40 DNAs and, in later experiments, preparations of
virus-coded proteins.  These studies should help us to learn about
mechanisms by which tumor antigens can alter gene expression in ways that
may on occasion lead to the transformation of cells to an oncogenic state.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3174999
- **Project number:** 5R01CA037208-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON
- **SAM.gov UEI:** LCLSJAGTNZQ7
- **Principal Investigator:** Janet Elaine Mertz
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1988
- **Award amount:** $94,390
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1984-09-01 → 1988-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3174999

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3174999, INVOLVEMENT OF T ANTIGEN IN SV40 LATE GENE EXPRESSION (5R01CA037208-05). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3174999. Licensed CC0.

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