Expression level of the retinoblastoma susceptibility gene is elevated in simian virus 40-transformed cells.

We examined the level of mRNA of the retinoblastoma-susceptibility gene (Rb gene) in simian virus 40 (SV40)-transformed primate cells. The mRNA level of Rb gene was elevated in SV40-transformed cells compared with that in untransformed parental cells. The level of Rb message was also increased by SV40 infection on monkey kidney CV-1 cells. The level of Rb gene mRNA in SV40-transformed or SV40-infected cells was about fourfold higher than that in controls. These observations suggest that Rb gene is one of the cellular genes which can be elevated by SV40 directly or indirectly.