# ADENOVIRAL ONCOGENE EXPRESSION AND TRANSFORMATION

> **NIH NIH R01** · FRED HUTCHINSON CANCER RESEARCH CENTER · 1987 · $115,426

## Abstract

Transcription units Ela and Elb of the human adenoviruses encode at least
five proteins and all of the functions needed for the oncogenic
transformation of primary rodent cells to cell lines that are immortalized
and have altered morphology and growth properties, both in vitro and in
vivo.  This transformation process will be characterized for its dependence
on the level at which E1 products are expressed, the effects of certain E1
products upon the expression of others, the degree to which different El
products are required and at what threshold levels for each of several
different characteristics of transformed cells, and the effects of E1
proteins on selected aspects of cellular structure and gene expression.
These studies will help to elucidate the mechanisms involved in
transforming normal to neoplastic cells, and should suggest strategies for
controlling the growth of tumor cells.

Chimetric DNA molecules will be constructed in which the expression of
these E1 genes is controlled by regulatory sequences derived from other
genes so that expression will occur at a variety of levels and in some
cases can be modulated by factors in the medium.  These molecules will be
introduced into rodent cells by co-transfection with selectable markers,
and the resulting colonies scored for levels of individual El gene
products, for effects on morphology, anchorage independent growth, and
saturation density, and for effects on host cell gene expression.  The
variation of these parameters with the level of expression of adenovirus
gene will be noted.  Transient overexpression of viral gene products will
be induced in an effort to amplify and thereby identify effects on host
cells that may be otherwise undetectable in established transformed cells.
To investigate the individual effects and interactions of the five
proteins, appropriate plasmids will be constructed that each express only
one or a few El proteins.  The effect of each of these plasmids alone, or
in combination with other such plasmids, on the expression of other El
genes, on the initiation and maintenance of the transformed phenotype, and
on parameters of cell growth, structure, and gene expression will be
investigated.  Similarly, individual domains within multifunctional
proteins will be identified by constructing and testing plasmids containing
appropriate mutations.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3178888
- **Project number:** 5R01CA039636-02
- **Recipient organization:** FRED HUTCHINSON CANCER RESEARCH CENTER
- **SAM.gov UEI:** HMSNCM57QNR5
- **Principal Investigator:** JAMES B LEWIS
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1987
- **Award amount:** $115,426
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1986-03-01 → 1988-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3178888

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3178888, ADENOVIRAL ONCOGENE EXPRESSION AND TRANSFORMATION (5R01CA039636-02). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3178888. Licensed CC0.

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