New Frontiers in the Study of Gene Functions (New Horizons in Therapeutics)

Simian virus 40 (SV40) is a small DNA tumor virus, the circular genome [5243 base pairs (bp)] of which encodes at least two early proteins and four late gene products (Tooze, 1980). The lytic cycle of this virus is expressed over a temporal course in permissive African green monkey kidney cells. Early viral gene expression is predominant in the first 10-12 hr postinfection. The early viral program appears to be represented by a single transcription unit that gives rise to one primary messenger RNA (mRNA). This transcript is then differentially spliced into one of two mRNAs that encode the two early SV40 proteins, large tumor (large-T) and small tumor (small-t) antigens. All subsequent events in the lytic cycle appear to depend on the presence of a functional large-T antigen, which, through binding to three large-T -antigen-binding sites near the origin for DNA replication: (1) modulates downward the level of early gene transcription through a repressorlike function, (2) stimulates the initiation of viral DNA replication, and (3) both directly and indirectly activates the SV40 late transcriptional program (see Fig. O. Front Matter....Pages i-xvi The Role of Cis- and Trans-Acting Functions in Simian Virus 40 Gene Regulation....Pages 1-19 Regulation of the Heat-Shock Response in Escherichia coli....Pages 21-32 Negative Control of DNA Replication Revealed in Composite Simian Virus 40-Bovine Papillomavirus Plasmids....Pages 33-50 DNA Supercoiling as a Regulator of Bacterial Gene Expression....Pages 51-59 Retrotransposition in Yeast....Pages 61-71 Comparative Genetic Analysis of Homeobox Genes in Mouse and Man....Pages 73-86 Eukaryotic Transcriptional Specificity Conferred by DNA-Binding Proteins....Pages 87-98 Chromatin Structure Near an Expressed Gene....Pages 99-109 Specificity of Gene Expression and Insertional Mutagenesis in Transgenic Mice....Pages 111-120 Retroviruses as Insertional Mutagens....Pages 121-129 P Transposable Elements and Their Use as Vectors for Gene Transfer in Drosophila....Pages 131-138 Mapping and Manipulating Immunoglobulin Functions....Pages 139-158 T4: A T-Cell Surface Protein Mediating Cell-Cell and Cell-AIDS Virus Interactions....Pages 159-175 Identifying the Determinants of Protein Function and Stability....Pages 177-198 Back Matter....Pages 199-202