Abstract
Purified SV 40 and polyoma DNA injected into nuclei of Xenopus oocytes were transcribed and subsequently translated into virus-specific tumor antigens and capsid proteins. SV 40 large and small tumor antigens synthesized in the oocytes were indistinguishable, by gel electrophoresis and [35S]methionine-labeled tryptic peptide mapping, from the corresponding polypeptides synthesized in CV-1 African green monkey cells. The synthesis of large SV 40 tumor antigen implies the correct splicing of its mRNA, which is complementary to nonadjacent nucleotide sequences in the early region of the viral genome. Polyoma DNA directed synthesis of 2 polyoma tumor antigen polypeptides, 57,000 MW and small tumor antigen, and of the main capsid protein.