Characterization of rat embryo cells transformed by ts mutants and sheared DNA of herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 and a derived tumor cell line.

Four independent isolated lines transformed by ts mutant or sheared DNA of herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 and one tumor cell line were characterized according to their behavior in assays of aggregation, growth in low serum, doubling times, saturation density, agglutination by lectins, uptake of metabolites, and production of plasminogen activator. The criteria used to select the transformed cells used in this study were the formation of altered foci of cells followed by the formation of a continuous cell line, the continuing expression of herpes simplex virus-specific antigens, and the tumorigenicity of the transformed cell lines. The results indicate that, whereas the one herpes simplex virus type 2-transformed cell line investigated showed many of the transformation parameters accepted as typical of cells transformed by the papovaviruses, the three herpes simplex virus type 1-transformed cell lines do not share or express many of these transformation parameters.