[Transforming and oncogenic properties of the adenovirus genome].

Analysis of data on transforming and oncogenic properties of adenovirus genome has shown that oncogenic properties of the cells transformed by adenoviruses are not determined by the length (to a definite extent) and by the number of copies of integrating parts of the viral DNA molecules. There are numerous sites of virus genome integration into the genome of the cell. The E1 region of the viral genome (0 to 11% of the map unit) consists of two transcription units E1a and E1b and plays the leading role in the tumourigenicity of transformed cells. Proteins coded by E1a are responsible for immortalization and initiation of transformation, those coded by E1b--for complete transformation and tumourigenicity. Proteins coded by the E1a region are the universal activators of transcription. Proteins coded by the E4 region activate expression of the E1b region and increase the virus carcinogenicity.