We have used mRNA differential display to search for cellular genes wh
ose expression is modulated in SV40-transformed cells. We identified a
gene, the alpha 1 subunit of type XI procollagen (alpha 1(XI)), whose
mRNA level is reduced in most F111 rat cell lines that express either
wild-type SV40 T antigen or an amino-terminal fragment of T antigen (
T147D), alpha 1(XI) mRNA expression is also reduced in rat embryo fibr
oblasts transformed by SV40. This phenomenon is not unique to rat cell
s, because alpha 1(XI) mRNA expression is repressed in C3H10T1/2 mouse
cells transformed by either T147D or wild-type SV40. Interestingly, a
lpha 1(XI) mRNA levels are not reduced in F111 cells that express only
the polyomavirus large T antigen, but are reduced in F111 cells trans
formed by polyoma virus (which expresses all three polyomavirus T anti
gens) and in F111 cells that express the adenovirus E1A proteins. Thus
, repression of alpha 1(XI) mRNA expression may be a common feature of
transformation by DNA tumor viruses. (C) 1996 Academic Press, Inc.