Selection of somatic cell hybrids between BK virus transformed BHK-21 and human embryonic kidney cells to study viral gene expression.
Somatic cell hybrids were constructed between the human papovavirus, BKV, transformed BHK-21 cells and human embryonic kidney cells, the permissive host for BKV using the polyethylene glycol-DMSO cell fusion method. Hybrids were selected to preserve the phenotype of transformation as anchorage independence to allow examination of the synthesis of BKV early gene products, the T proteins. Several hybrid clones which survived the selection procedure demonstrated an enhanced production of the small t or approximately 22 K protein while the viral large T or approximatley 94 K protein was not detectable. It was also determined in this study that BHK-21 cells which are thymidine kinase deficient (TK-) can be stably transformed by BKV and appear to remain enzyme deficient after transformation.
D000818:Animals; D001739:BK Virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D002459:Cell Fusion; D002460:Cell Line; D002472:Cell Transformation, Viral; D006224:Cricetinae; D005814:Genes, Viral; D006801:Humans; D006822:Hybrid Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D007668:Kidney; D011120:Polyomavirus / Q000502:physiology*; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D014764:Viral Proteins