Infection of G(0) arrested NIH3T3 fibroblasts with SV40 induces quiescent cells to re-enter the cell cycle and to initiate cellular DNA synthesis. We analyzed the contribution of second messengers to the stimulation of cellular DNA synthesis by SV40 infection of quiescent cells. A rapid increase in the intracellular Ca2+ ion concentration and a decrease in the intracellular cAMP concentration was found. An elevated cAMP level is incompatible with the stimulation of cellular DNA synthesis by SV40 infection of quiescent cells. Thus, overcoming the cAMP sensitive restriction point seems to be an early event after SV40 infection of quiescent cells. These data demonstrate that signal transduction mechanisms are implicated in early response to SV40 infection of quiescent cells.

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