Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, USA.
Annu Rev Microbiol. 2012;66:213-36. doi: 10.1146/annurev-micro-092611-150154.
The large tumor antigen (T antigen) encoded by simian virus 40 is an amazing molecular machine because it orchestrates viral infection by modulating multiple fundamental viral and cellular processes. T antigen is required for viral DNA replication, transcription, and virion assembly. In addition, T antigen targets multiple cellular pathways, including those that regulate cell proliferation, cell death, and the inflammatory response. Ectopic T antigen expression results in the immortalization and transformation of many cell types in culture and T antigen induces neoplasia when expressed in rodents. The analysis of the mechanisms by which T antigen carries out its many functions has proved to be a powerful way of gaining insights into cell biology. The accelerating pace at which new polyomaviruses are being discovered provides a collection of novel T antigens that, like simian virus 40, can be used to discover and study key cellular regulatory systems.
猿猴病毒 40 编码的大肿瘤抗原（T 抗原）是一种令人惊叹的分子机器，因为它通过调节多种基本的病毒和细胞过程来协调病毒感染。T 抗原是病毒 DNA 复制、转录和病毒体组装所必需的。此外，T 抗原还靶向多种细胞途径，包括调节细胞增殖、细胞死亡和炎症反应的途径。异位 T 抗原表达导致培养中的许多细胞类型的永生化和转化，当在啮齿动物中表达时，T 抗原诱导肿瘤发生。分析 T 抗原执行其多种功能的机制已被证明是深入了解细胞生物学的一种有力方法。新发现的多瘤病毒的加速步伐为一系列新型 T 抗原提供了一个平台，这些 T 抗原与猿猴病毒 40 一样，可用于发现和研究关键的细胞调节系统。
