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Three enzymes that cause inhibition of mRNA translation, eukaryotic initiation factor 2 protein kinase PK-i, oligoisoadenylate synthetase E, and phosphodiesterase 2'-PDi, have been recently isolated from interferon-treated cells. We show that the rise in these three enzyme activities may be used to study the response of uninfected cells to interferon. For each enzyme, a specific microassay that can be carried out on extracts from 2-5 x 10(4) monolayer cells from mouse, monkey, or man was developed. With these assays, the kinetics of induction of the three enzymes in mouse L cells are compared. The dose dependence for protein kinase PK-i induction is shown to be similar to that for the development of the antiviral state. Actinomycin D and anti-interferon serum block enzyme induction if added to the cells early after interferon treatment. The quantitative measurements of the intracellular level of these enzymes provide a new and convenient model to study the cell's response to interferon.

DNA from lambdagt-lambdaB bacteriophage was cleaved with EcoRI endonuclease and fragments from EcoRI-digested E. coli DNA were inserted. This DNA was used to infect E. coli, and phages containing the gene for DNA ligase were isolated by genetic selection. Two different hybrids were found with the same E. coli segment inserted in opposite orientations. Both hybrids produced similar levels of ligase as measured in crude extracts of infected cells.

Temperature-sensitive (ts) mutants of the T4 phage rII gene were islated and used in temperature shift experiments that revelaed two different expressions for the normal rII (rII+) gene function in vivo: (i) an early expression (0 to 12 min postinfection at 30 C) that prevents restriction of T4 growth in Escherichia coli hosts lysogenic for gamma phage, and (ii) a later expression (12 to 18 min postinfection at 30 C) that results in restriction of T4 growth when the phage DNA ligase (gene 30) is missing. The earlier expression appeared to coincide with the period of synthesis of the protein product of the T4 rIIA cistron, whereas the later expression occurred after rIIA protein synthesis had stopped. The synthesis of the protein product of the rIIB cistron continues for several minutes after rIIA protein synthesis ceases (O'Farrell and Gold, 1973). The two rII+ gene expressions might require different molar ratios of the rIIA and rIIB proteins. It is possible that the separate expressions of rII+ gene function are manifestations of different associations between the two rII proteins and other T4-induced proteins that are synthesized or activated at different times after phage infection.

Strand breaks accumulated in the DNA of a temperature-sensitive DNA ligase mutant of Escherichia coli growing at the restrictive temperature, as detected by zone sedimentation through alkaline sucrose density gradients. The rate of strand breakage was increased by concomitant thymine starvation. Rifampicin and chloramphenicol inhibited the accumulation of strand breaks in the DNA. There was a correlation between the accumulation of strand breaks in the DNA and lethality, suggesting that such breaks are the basis for lethality at the restrictive temperature.

An oligonucleotide polymerase and a protein kinase which require double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) for activation are induced in HeLa cells by human fibroblast interferon. The polymerase synthesizes a series of oligonucleotides from ATP, whereas the kinase phosphorylates a polypeptide of Mr = 72,000 and the alpha subunit of initiation factor eIF-2. Partially or fully 2'-O-methylated derivatives of poly(inosinic acid) . poly(cytidylic acid) (rIn . rCn) were used to determine the structural requirements of dsRNA in the activation of these two enzymes. While fully methylated polymers failed to activate either enzyme, partially methylated polymers activated the enzymes in specific manners. The activation of the kinase by the rIn . rCn analogues was affected more severely by the level of methylation than was the activation of the polymerase. Moreover, fully methylated analogues blocked the activation of the kinase by rIn . rCn but not the activation of the polymerase. These observations are consistent with a biphasic model for enzyme activation similar to that proposed for interferon induction, which required the recognition of a relatively small region of rIn . rCn as the last step. Differences in the activation of the polymerase and kinase are explicable on the basis of the polymerase requirement for a smaller recognition region of the rIn . rCn duplex than the kinase. Dependence of polymerase activation on the level of methylation shows striking similarities with the interferon inducing activities of these analogues, suggesting a possible relationship between polymerase activation and interferon induction.

Treatment of HeLa cells with interferon results in the induction of an enzymatic activity designated 2'5'oligo(A) polymerase. The polymerase requires continuous presence of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) for activity, since degradation of dsRNA abolishes synthesis of the oligomeric series pppA(2'p5'A)n. These oligonucleotides are formed initially at a constant rate with dimer synthesized faster than trimer, and the latter faster than tetramer. After 45 min, accumulation of the dimer declines whereas that of other oligomers still proceeds at a linear rate. These results suggest that an oligomer remains associated with the enzyme for possible consecutive additions of adenylate, since no significant accumulation of dimer precedes synthesis of trimer. The relative amounts of the different oligomers found at the end of a reaction may reflect an increasing probability of release as the oligomers are elongated. The accumulation of dimer, however, decreases when it becomes a substrate for adenylate addition; incorporation of isolated dimer into 2'5'-oligo(A) was directly shown. Other nucleotides with a blocked p5'A terminus, like A5'ppppp5'A and NADH, can serve as adenylate acceptors in the presence of dsRNA. The adenosine triphosphates 2'-dATP and 3'-dATP are not incorporated efficiently into 2'5'-oligo(A) and inhibit its synthesis.

Escherichia coli B/r (suo) was infected, at 30 degrees C, with T4Dam+, T4DamB24-amN82 (I-, 44-, DNA-negative phenotype), and T4DamN134amBL292 (33-, 55-, maturation-defective phenotype). A genetic ('transformation') assay was used to monitor transcription of genes 30 (polynucleotide ligase), 42 (deoxycytidylate hydroxymethylase), 43 (DNA polymerase), rIIA, rIIB, and e (endolysin). The principal results are: (I) All of the genes studied were transcribed exlusively from the so-called l-strand of phage DNA. (2) DNA synthesis and the maturation-defective proteins were required to turn-off transcription of genes 42, rIIA, tIIB, and 43. Experiments performed with chloramphenicol suggested that all phage-specific proteins required to turn-off transcription of these genes were not present until 6 to 8 min post infection (p.i.). (3) During a normal developmental programme, gene 30 was transcribed throughout the eclipse. DNA-negative and maturation-defective conditions had no obvious effect on transcription of this gene. (4) During a normal lytic event, two discrete waves of gene e transcription were observed. The late wave was dependent upon DNA-synthesis and presence of functional maturation-defective proteins. The early wave was unaffected by DNA-negative or maturation-defective conditions. Experiments with chloramphenicol indicated that, if any virus-specific proteins are involved with regulation of early e transcription, such proteins are present by 3 min p.i. The data are interpreted to mean that early gene transcription is regulated by a minimum of two mechanisms. One of these mechanisms is fully operational by the 3rd min and, among the genes studied, controlled early e transcription. A second mechanism becomes operational between 6 and 8 min p.i. and controls transcription of genes 42, 43, rIIA, and rIIB.

Interferons induce an enzymatic activity that polymerizes ATP into 2'5'-oligoadenylate. This enzyme, designated 2'5'-oligo(A) polymerase, is induced in HeLa cells by type I interferon with a faster kinetics than by type II (immune) interferon. Cells treated with type I interferon in the presence of cycloheximide show elevated levels of polymerase when the inhibitor or protein synthesis is removed and actinomycin D is added to the cultures to prevent further synthesis of mRNA. This suggests that, in the presence of cycloheximide, interferon can activate transcription of mRNA for the 2'5'-oligo(A) polymerase, which is subsequently translated upon removal of this inhibitor. In contrast, cells treated with type II interferon in the same way do not show increased levels of polymerase. This indicates that type II interferon cannot activate transcription of a stable mRNA for the polymerase when protein synthesis is inhibited. This observation and the different kinetics of induction of 2'5'-oligo(A) polymerase suggest major differences in the mechanism of action of the different types of interferon, with type I being a "direct" inducer of the polymerase and type II an "indirect" inducer. The commitment of HeLa cells to the induction of 2'5'-oligo(A) polymerase declines if the cells are exposed to type I interferon in the presence of an inhibitor of RNA synthesis. This suggests that transcription of specific mRNAs is transiently activated by interferon and that repeated interaction of interferon with its receptor may be required for prolonged transcription of the mRNA for 2'5'-oligo(A) polymerase.

When bacteriophage lambda DNA replication is blocked by mutation in phage genes O or P, the efficiency of lysogenization drops to a very low value unless high multiplicities of infecting phage are used. Our results show that even at high multiplicity, lambda O or P mutants cannot efficiently lysogenize some hosts that are defective in either DNA polymerase I or DNA ligase. Covalent closure of infecting DNA molecules, a preliminary step for insertion according to Campbell's model and an obvious candidate for this lysogenization defect, appears to occur normally under our conditions. In addition, prophage excision as measured by the frequency of curing O- and P- lysogens seemed normal when tested in the poll- strain. These results suggest that the Escherichia coli enzymes DNA polymerase I and ligase, and phage proteins O and P, are able to provide some complementary activity whose function is required specifically for prophage integration.

Genetic analyses of an Escherichia coli K-12 mutant possessing the amber mutation lig-321 were carried out. This mutant is defective in deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) ligase and conditionally lethal. We constructed strains harboring an F'lig+ or F'lig-321 plasmid. Genetic complementation analyses were done by using these plasmids and by constructing a lig-4/F'lig-321 merodiploid. It was shown that lig-321 does not complement lig-4, unless the former is suppressed by an amber suppressor. The same was found to be the case between lig-321 and lig-ts7. Transductional mapping of lig-321, by a four-factor cross, revealed that lig-321 is very closely linked to lig-4. The frequency of recombinants between the two alleles was not unreasonable for assuming that they arose by intragenic recombination. The lig-4 and lig-ts7 alleles are known to reside in the structural gene for DNA ligase, in which lig-321 may also be located.

A lambda vector that contains the gene for Escherichia coli DNA ligase (lambdagt4-lop-11 lig+) has been modified to achieve overproduction of this enzyme. The third Eco RI site in the lambda chromosome has been altered by mutation, and the left-hand Eco RI fragment has been shortened. The new vector, lambdagt4-lop-11 lig+, forms a stable lysogen which, upon induction, produces a 100-fold increase in DNA ligase activity. Introduction of a phage mutation (S7) that prevents cell lysis results in an even greater increase (500-fold).

The cause of T7 exclusion by the F episome was investigated. Extracts from neither normal nor infected F+ cells contained an inhibitor of gene expression in vitro. The protein synthesizing systems prepared in vitro from these cells supported T7 early and late protein synthesis with normal efficiency. The content of translational initiation factors in F- and F+ cells, both noninfected and infected, was almost identical. The episome-dependent block of T7 gene expression was observed only in intact cells and detailed kinetics of gene expression in vivo revealed a stop of all transcription and translation at or just before 11 min after T7 infection. The mechanism of F+-dependent T7 exclusion involves both episomal and viral gene products. The data indicate that a T7-induced membrane alteration of the F+ cell membrane leads to cessation of T7 development as well as to the death of the host cell ('suicide').

The activity of 2',5'-oligoadenylate synthetase, which is induced by interferon action, was detected in mouse trigeminal ganglia infected with herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1. When HSV was inoculated on the left cheek of mice, the virus began to appear in the ipsilateral trigeminal ganglia on day 2, reached its maximum accumulation on day 4, declined thereafter, and was no longer detected in the tissue homogenate after 11 days. After this short acute productive phase, the virus entered into the latent phase of infection. 2',5'-Oligoadenylate synthetase appeard in the trigeminal ganglia shortly after the beginning of virus multiplication; the synthetase activity began to rise on day 3, reached a maxium level on day 4, and then declined. Interferon activity (type I) also appeared in the infected ganglia, but diminished more rapidly than the synthetase. The antibody against HSV in the sera began to appear at the time when the virus and synthetase were declining. From these results it may be hypothesized, although not concluded, that in the acute productive phase of HSV infection in mouse trigeminal ganglia, virus multiplication is suppressed by interferon action, including 2',5'-oligoadenylate synthetase induction.

An enzymatic activity that synthesizes (2'-5')-oligo(A) from ATP is induced in animal cells treated with interferon. This activity, designated (2'-5')A polymerase, is also elevated in human lymphoblastoid Daudi and Raji cells treated with hydrocortisone. The polymerase activity increases significantly after 24 hr of treatment and declines when hydrocortisone is removed from the culture medium. The product of the enzyme prepared from hydrocortisone-treated cells is indistinguishable from (2'-5')oligo(A) synthesized with polymerase of interferon-treated cells either by an endonuclease activation assay or by chromatographic analysis. The increase in (2'-5')A polymerase is not mediated by secretion of interferon by hydrocortisone-treated cells; less than 1 unit of interferon per ml is present in the culture medium during treatment with this glucocorticoid hormone. Moreover, this increase is related to the concentration of hydrocortisone in the culture medium and is inhibited by the addition of cortexolone. This steroid interferes with the interaction between glucocorticoid hormones and their receptor. Cortexolone has no effect, however, on the induction of (2'-5')A polymerase by interferon. The synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone also increases the polymerase activity. Experiments with inhibitors show that such an increase requires RNA and protein synthesis.

Trisomy 21 human fibroblasts are more sensitive to human interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) than are diploid controls, consistent with the location of the gene (IFRC) which codes for the IFN-alpha receptor on chromosome 21. When compared in the antiviral assay, the difference in sensitivity is five- to tenfold, much greater than the 50% difference in IFRC gene dosage. An understanding of the mechanism by which this amplification of gene dosage occurs is relevant to the specific pathology of Down's syndrome and as a model system for studying the pathogenic effects of chromosomal aneuploidy. The enzyme (2'-5') oligoisoadenylate synthetase (2-5A synthetase), which is believed to be central to the interferon-induced antiviral response, is induced 50% more in trisomy 21 fibroblasts than in diploid controls. Thus the amplification in response occurs subsequent to the binding of IFN-alpha to its receptor and the triggering of the first set of intracellular events, the latter exemplified by the induction of 2-5A synthetase. Similar results were obtained with IFN-gamma, consistent with other evidence which indicates that a gene coding for a separate IFN-gamma receptor is also located on chromosome 21.

A monospecific antibody against calf thymus DNA ligase composed of a single polypeptide with Mr = 130,000 cross-reacts with rodent and calf thymus DNA ligases. The antibody precipitates a single Mr = 200,000 polypeptide from detergent lysates of [3H] leucine-labeled mouse Ehrlich tumor cells and calf thymocytes. Pulse-chase experiments show that the Mr = 200,000 polypeptide in Ehrlich tumor cells has a half-life of about 0.5 h. In addition to the Mr = 200,000 polypeptide, a Mr = 130,000 polypeptide is detected in the partially purified enzyme preparations from radiolabeled Ehrlich tumor cells. These results suggest that DNA ligase is synthesized in mammalian cells as a Mr = 200,000 polypeptide and that the Mr = 200,000 polypeptide is degraded to a Mr = 130,000 polypeptide by a limited proteolysis in vitro.

The processing of the early T3 and T7 high-molecular-weight precursor messenger RNA by RNase III is necessary for its efficient translation both in vivo and in vitro.

Bacteriophage T7 bearing amber mutations in both gene 1.3 (T7 DNA ligase) and gene 3 (T7 endonuclease I) are viable when grown in suppressor-negative, ligase-negative hosts. This is evidenced by a high plating efficiency and a large burst size compared to the single mutants. These findings may be explained by a limited destruction of cellular DNA by the double mutant.