Polyoma virus middle T gene can trigger malignant transformation of early passage rodent cells

Abstract

Previous studies on the tumourigenic conversion of early passage rat embryo cells by the polyoma virus early genes have suggested a multigenic control of tumourigenesis. Thus, the large T gene can immortalize early passage rat cells and can relieve the serum dependence of normal and transformed cells. The middle T gene alone cannot immortalize early passage cells; however, it can induce cells of established cell lines to become anchorage-independent and tumourigenic. Here we show that when linked to transcriptional enhancers, the polyoma virus middle T gene can trigger the complete malignant transformation of early passage rodent cells. Therefore, the polyoma virus middle T gene does not require a cooperating oncogene to induce malignant conversion of these cells.