RT Journal Article ID 0905d68652847126 A1 Bryan, Tracy A1 Redder, Roger R. T1 SV40-lnduced Immortalization of Human Cells JF Critical Reviews™ in Oncogenesis JO CRO YR 1994 FD 1994-09-01 VO 5 IS 4 SP 331 OP 357 AB For several decades simian virus 40 (SV40) early region genes have been used as a means of generating immortalized human cell lines; however, the molecular mechanisms of this process have begun to be understood only recently. SV40-induced immortalization proceeds via two phases. In the first phase ("lifespan extension"), cells continue proliferating for a limited number of population doublings beyond the point at which normal cells undergo senescence. This is mainly due to the ability of SV40 large T antigen (LTAg) to bind to the protein products of the p53 and retinoblastoma (Rb) genes. The second phase ("immortalization") occurs in only a small minority of cells, and cell hybridization analyses indicate that this is a gene inactivation event. The gene or genes involved are currently unknown, but chromosomal localization data are accumulating which should make their cloning and characterization possible in the near future. PB Begell House LK https://www.dl.begellhouse.com/journals/439f422d0783386a,364c2d3c454d326b,0905d68652847126.html