Open AccessEfficient infection of monkey cells with DNA of simian virus 40.
Author(s) -
Lauren Sompayrac,
Kathleen J. Danna
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.78.12.7575
Subject(s) - ethidium bromide , immunofluorescence , simian , virus , virology , biology , dna , microbiology and biotechnology , antigen , cell culture , antibody , immunology , genetics
With standard protocols for DNA infection, only a small fraction (about 4%) of monkey cells exposed to purified DNA of simian virus 40 (SV40) exhibits signs of infection. We have devised a protocol by which we can extend the time of exposure of BSC-1 cells to DNA in the presence of low concentrations of DEAE-dextran. The efficiency of infection is proportional to the time of exposure. With an 8-hr exposure, we are reproducibly able to infect 25% of the cells, and we have been able to achieve levels of infection as high as 50% with a 16-hr exposure. The percentage of cells infected was measured either by scoring for nuclei positive for SV40 tumor antigen or by an infectious centers assay. We also report the use of ethidium bromide as a nonspecific nuclear counterstain in the immunofluorescence assay for SV40 tumor antigen.