Location and identification of the genes for adenovirus type 2 early polypeptides.

Virus-specific RNA was prepared from cells early after adenovirus type 2 infection and fractionated by hybridization to specific fragments of viral DNA. The viral mRNA was used to program cell-free protein synthesis, and the products were analyzed by electrophoresis. The genes for the early polypeptides of apparent molecular weight 44,000, 15,000, 72,000, 15,500, 19,000, and 11,000 daltons were located, respectively, between positions 0-4.1, 4.1-16.7, 58.5-70.7, 75.9-83.4, 89.7-98.6, and 89.7-98.6 of the conventional adenovirus DNA map. The polypeptide of molecular weight 72,000 daltons was shown to be the single-stranded DNA-binding protein described by others. RNAs from three different adeno-transformed cell lines each program the synthesis in vitro of predominantly the 15K polypeptide, as well as variable amounts of the polypeptide of molecular weight 44,000 daltons. The genes for these two polypeptides are located in the portion of DNA known to be required for transformation of rodent cells by adenovirus.