Recent progress in studies of polyomavirus tumour antigens.
The polyomavirus tumour (T) antigens were originally identified by their reactivity with antisera from tumour-bearing animals. The primary structure of the three T-antigens has been established by combining the information from the nucleotide sequencing of DNA, RNA analysis, and peptide mapping. The functions of the T-antigens in productive infection and cellular transformation have largely been analysed by using virus mutants. The large T-antigen binds specifically to polyomavirus DNA. This binding is probably linked to the activity of the protein in the control of viral DNA and RNA synthesis. In addition, the large T-antigen has the ability to confer an unlimited growth potential to cells in culture. The middle T-antigen is a primary inducer of cellular transformation. The part of this protein that is located in the plasma membrane, is associated with a tyrosine kinase activity. The small T-antigen, finally, has not yet been studied extensively. However, small T-antigen has to be expressed to allow a complete productive infection cycle in mouse cells.
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D000596:Amino Acids / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D000952:Antigens, Polyomavirus Transforming; D000957:Antigens, Viral, Tumor / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D001483:Base Sequence; D002472:Cell Transformation, Viral; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002621:Chemistry; D004279:DNA, Viral; D005814:Genes, Viral; D051379:Mice; D011120:Polyomavirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D014776:Virus Cultivation
D000596:Amino Acids; D000952:Antigens, Polyomavirus Transforming; D000957:Antigens, Viral, Tumor; D004279:DNA, Viral; D014764:Viral Proteins