Evidence for crossing-over between avian tumor viruses based on analysis of viral RNAs

Independent regulation of endogenous and exogenous avian RNA tumor virus genes

3H-Labeled complementary DNA specific for the envelope glycoprotein (env) gene of avian leukosis-sarcoma viruses was isolated by selective nucleic acid hybridization techniques, and used to analyze the expression of the endogenous provirus. The endogenous provirus in certain cell types termed chicken helper factor positive (chf+) can synthesize the envelope glycoprotein. Env DNA sequences were present in both chf+ and chf- cells, but env RNA was detectable only in positive cell types. When these cells were infected with the Bryan strain of Rous sarcoma virus (BH-RSV), a defective virus which is deleted in the env gene, the levels of endogenous env RNA remained unchanged, although exogenous BH-RSV specific RNA was synthesized in very high amounts. Thus, the infecting virus did not appear to influence the expression of the endogenous virus. Likewise, the endogenous virus did not influence the exogenous virus expression, since similar amounts of BH-RSV specific RNA were present in all infected cell types, regardless of the level of endogenous virus expression.

Sequence homology between Moloney murine sarcoma virus and Moloney leukemia virus RNA

The Moloney murine sarcoma-leukemia virus [M-MSV (MuLV)], propagated at high multiplicity of infection (MOI), was demonstrated previously to contain a native genome mass of 4 X 10(6) daltons as contrasted to a mass of 7 X 10(6) daltons for Moloney murine leukemia virus (M-MuLV). The 4 X 10(6)-dalton classof RNA from M-MSV (MuLV) was examined for base sequence homology with DNA complementary to the 7 X 10(6)-dalton M-MuLV RNA genome. Approximately 86% of the M-MSV (MuLV) was protected from RNase digestion by hybridization, whereas 95% of M-MuLV was protected under identical conditions. These results indicate that the small RNA class of high-MOI M-MSV (MuLV) contains little (perhaps 10%) genetic information not present in M-MuLV. Virtually all of the 1.8 X 10(6)-dalton subunits of M-MSV (MuLV) RNA contained regions of poly(A) since 94% of the RNA bound to oligo(dT) cellulose in 0.5 M KCl. This suggests that the formation of the 1.8 X 10(6)-dalton subunits occurs before their packaging into virions and does not result from hydrolysis of intact 3.5 X 10(6)-dalton subunits by a virion-associated nuclease.

Distribution of envelope-specific and sarcoma-specific nucleotide sequences from different parents in the RNAs of avian tumor virus recombinants

The distribution of leukosis-virus- and sarcoma-virus-specific oligonucleotide sequences was investigated in the RNAs of viral recombinants selected for an envelope gene (env) from a leukosis parent and a sarcoma gene (src) from a sarcoma parent. For this purpose 20 to 30 RNase-T1-resistant oligonucleotides were chemically analyzed and mapped within the 10,000 nucleotides of each viral RNA relative to the 3'-poly(A) end. The resulting oligonucleotide maps were compared. Proceeding from the 3' to the 5' end, the maps of four recombinants contained: (i) in a segment of 2000 nucleotides, three to four src-specific oligonucleotides, so identified because they were shared only with the sarcoma parent; and (ii) in a segment of 8000 nucleotides, 20 oligonucleotides shared with the leukosis parent, of which six to seven were also shared with the sarcoma parent. Two other recombinants contained: (1) in a segment of 2000 (one) or 3000 (the other) nucleotides, three src-specific oligonucleotides; (ii) in a segment of 3000 (one) or 2000 (the other) nucleotides, five (one) or four (the other) oligonucleotides, all or some of which are env-specific, because they were shared with the leukosis parent; (iii) in a segment of 5000 nucleotides (both), 11 functionally unidentified sarcoma-virus-derived oligonucleotides, of which seven were also shared with the leukosis parent. The map locations of parental oligonucleotides were not changed in recombinants and all viral strains tested shared six to eight highly conserved oligonucleotides at equivalent map locations. The partial map -env-src-poly(A) emerged from the analyses of these recombinants.

Genomic complexities of murine leukemia and sarcoma, reticuloendotheliosis, and visna viruses

The genetic complexities of several ribodeoxyviruses were measured by quantitative analysis of unique RNase T1-resistant oligonucleotides from 60-70S viral RNAs. Moloney murine leukemia virus was found to have an RNA complexity of 3.5 x 10(6) daltons, whereas Moloney murine sarcoma virus had a significantly smaller genome size of 2.3 x 10(6). Reticuleondotheliosis and visna virus RNAs had complexities of 3.9 x 10(6), respectively. Analysis of RNase A-resistant oligonucleotides of Rous sarcoma virus RNA gave a complexity of 3.6 x 10(6), similar to that previously obtained with RNase T1-resistant oligonucleotides. Since each of these viruses was found to have a unique sequence genomic complexity near the molecular weight of a single 30-40S viral RNA subunit, it was concluded that ribodeoxyvirus genomes are at least largely polyploid.

Location of envelope-specific and sarcoma-specific oligonucleotides on RNA of Schmidt-Ruppin Rous sarcoma virus

Envelope-specific and sarcoma-specific nucleotide sequences have been located within the 10,000 nucleotides of the RNA of nondefective Schmidt-Ruppin Rous sarcoma virus (nd SR). For this purpose, about 30 RNase-T1-resistant oligonucleotides were ordered relative to the 3'-poly(A) terminus of the RNA, to construct an oligonucleotide map of the nd SR RNA. A cluster of seven envelope-specific oligonucleotides, identified by their absence from an otherwise very similar oligonucleotide map of an envelop-defective deletion mutant (which lacks the major viral glycoprotein), mapped at a distance of 2800-5000 nucleotides from the poly(A) end of nd SR RNA. A cluster of two sarcoma-specific oligonucleotides, identified by their absence from an otherwise nearly identical oligonucleotide map of a transformation-defective deletion mutant, mapped at a distance of 1000-2000 nucleotides from the poly(A) end of nd SR RNA. The oligonucleotide maps of nd SR and of the two deletion mutants were the same from the poly(A) end up to 650 nucleotides and included one terminal oligonucleotid, termed C, which is found in all avian tumor viruses tested so far. A possible gene order consistent with our data suggests that sarcoma-specific nucleotide sequences map between envelope-specific nucleotide sequences and the poly(A) end of the RNA.

Ribonucleotide sequence homology among avian oncornaviruses

RNA sequence relatedness among avian RNA tumor virus genomes was analyzed by inhibition of DNA-RNA hybrid formation between 3H-labeled 35S viral RNA and an excess of leukemic or normal chicken cell DNA with increasing concentrations of unlabeled 35S viral RNA. The avian viruses tested were Rous associated virus (RAV)-3, avian myeloblastosis virus (AMV), RAV-60, RAV-61, and B-77 sarcoma virus. Hybridization of 3H-labeled 35S AMV RNA with DNA from normal chicken cells was inhibited by unlabeled 35S RAV-0 RNA as effeciently (100%) as by unlabeled AMV RNA. Hybridization between 3H-labeled 35S AMV RNA and DNA from leukemic chicken myeloblasts induced by AMV was suppressed 100 and 68% by unlabeled 35S RNA from AMV and RAV-0, respectively. Hybridization between 3H-labeled RAV-0 and leukemic chicken myeloblast DNA was inhibited 100 and 67% by unlabeled 35S RNA from RAV-0 and AMV, respectively. It appears therefore that the AMV and RAV-0 genomes are 67 to 70% homologous and that AMV hybridizes to RAV-0 like sequences in normal chicken DNA. Hybridization between AMV RNA and leukemic chicken DNA was inhibited 40% by RNA from RAV-60 or RAV-61 and 50% by B-77 RNA. Hybridization between RAV-0 RNA and leukemic chicken DNA was inhibited 80% by RAV-60 or RAV-61 and 70% by B-77 RNA. Hybridization between 3H-labeled 35S RNA from RAV-60 or RAV-61 and leukemic chicken myeloblast DNA was reduced equally by RNA from RAV-60, RAV-61, AMV or RAV-0; this suggests that RNA from RAV-60 and RAV-61 hybridizes with virus-specific sequences in leukemic DNA which are shared by AMV, RAV-0, RAV-60, and RAV-61 RNA'S. Hybridization between 3H-labeled 35S RNA from RAV-61 and normal pheasant DNA was inhibited 100% by homologous viral RNA, 22 TO 26% BY RNA from AMV or RAV-0, and 30 to 33% by RNA from RAV-60 or B-77. Nearly complete inhibition of hybricization between RAV-0 RNA and leukemic chicken DNA by a mixture of AMV and B-77 35S RNAs indicates that the RNA sequences shared by B-77 virus and RAV-0. It appears that different avian RNA tumor virus genomes have from 50 to 80% homology in nucleotide sequences and that the degree of hybridization between normal chicken cell DNA and a given viral RNA can be predicted from the homology that exists between the viral RNA tested and RAV-0 RNA.

Comparison of an avian osteopetrosis virus with an avian lymphomatosis virus by RNA-DNA hybridization

Myeloblastosis-associated virus (MAV)-2(0), a virus which was derived from avian myeloblastosis virus and induced a high incidence of osteopetrosis, was compared with avian lymphomatosis virus 5938, a recent field isolate which induced a high incidence of lymphomatosis. The following information was obtained. (i) MAV-2(0) induced osteopetrosis, nephroblastoma, and a very low incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma. No difference was seen in the oncogenic spectrum of end point and plaque-purified MAV-2(0). (ii) 125I-labeled RNA sequences from MAV-2(0) formed hybrids with DNA extracted from osteopetrotic bone at a rate suggesting five proviral copies per haploid cell genome. The extent of hybridization of MAV-2(0) RNA with DNA from osteopetrotic tissue was more extensive (87%) than was observed in reactions with DNA from uninfected chicken embryos (52%). (iii) Competition of unlabeled viral RNA in hybridization reactions between the radioactive RNA from the two viruses and their respective proviral sequences present in tumor tissues showed that 15 to 20% of the viral sequences detected in these reactions were unshared. In contrast, no differences were detected in competition analyses of RNA sequences from the two viruses detected in DNA of normal chicken cells. (iv) MAV-2(0) 35S RNA was indistinguishable in size from avian lymphomatosis virus 5938 35S RNA by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.

Sequences and functions of Rous sarcoma virus RNA

A procedure has been developed to map the genetic elements of avian tumor virus RNA, which has a molecular weight of about 3 X 10(6) daltons and a poly(A) sequence at the 3' end. For this purpose, about 30 RNase T1-resistant oligonucleotides were ordered relative to the 3'-poly(A) terminus of the RNA, to construct an oligonucleotide map of viral RNAs. A cluster of seven envelope gene (env)-specific oligonucleotides, identified by their absence from the otherwise very similar oligonucleotide map of an envelope-defective deletion mutant (which lacks the major viral glycoprotein), mapped at a distance of 0.9 to 1.6 X 10(6) daltons from the poly(A) end of sarcoma virus RNA. A cluster of three sarcoma gene (src)-specific oligonucleotides, identified by their absence from the otherwise nearly identical oligonucleotide map of a transformation-defective deletion mutant mapped at a distance of 0.2 to 0.6 X 10(6) daltons from the poly(A) end of sarcoma virus RNA. The oligonucleotide maps of sarcoma viruses and of related deletion mutants were the same from the poly(A) end up to 0.2 X 10(6) daltons and included one terminal oligonucleotide, termed C, which is found in all avian tumor viruses tested so far. Preliminary mapping experiments ordering the src-specific and env-specific oligonucleotides of recombinants, selected for sarcoma and envelope genes of different parents, agree with those obtained by comparing maps of wild type viruses and deletion mutants. A partial genetic map consistent with these results suggests that the src gene maps between the env gene and the 3'-poly(A) end of viral RNA. This map reads: poly(A)-src-env-(pol, gag).

Mapping of biological functions on RNA of avian tumor viruses: location of regions required for transformation and determination of host range

A map of the large T1 oligonucleotides of the RNA of Prague Rous sarcoma virus, strain B (Pr RSVb) has recently been established (Coffin and Billeter, submitted for publication). Since the RNA of Rous associated virus, type 1 (RAV-1) lacks many of the large 1 oligonucleotides of Pr RSV-B and contains others not present in the latter, the RNA of recombinants between RAV-1 and Pr RSV-B could be analyzed with regard to the origin of its sequences. Recombinants were selected for transforming capacity (characteristic for Pr RSV-B) and ability to grow on C/B chicken fibroblasts (characteristic for RAV-1). Four out of five recombinants examined had undergone at least two crossovers. The set of Pr RSV-B-specific oligonucleotides present in all recombinants defined an RNA region near the poly(A) segment; this must contain genetic information required for transformation required for transformation (the onc function). All recombinants lost a set of contiguous Pr RSV-B-specific oligonucleotides and concomitantly acquired a set of RAV-1-specific oligonucleotides. These define a region in the middle section of the oligonucleotide map, all or some of which must be required for determining growth capacity on C/B cells (the env function).

Physical properties of moloney murine leukemia virus high-molecular-weight RNA: a two subunit structure

The high-molecular-weight RNA of Moloney murine leukemia virus (MuLV) was analyzed by sedimentation equilibrium ultracentrifugation. Molecular weights of 7.2 x 10(6) and 3.4 x 10(6) were found for the native and subunit forms, respectively, indicating that the native structure is a dimer. S20,w and frictional coefficients were determined for MuLV RNA by analytical velocity centrifugation as a function of ionic strength. The apparent S20,w of native MuLV RNA was 47.3, 57.4, and 66.5 in 0.01, 0.1, and 0.20 M Na+, respectively; the corresponding frictional coefficients were 5.44, 4.48, and 3.87. Native RNA was estimated by circular dichroism to be 85% helical, whereas denatured RNA was 54% helical. Thermal denaturation profiles were obtained from uv absorbance scans. Melting temperatures of 57 and 68 C were obtained for high-molecular-weight RNA in 0.01 M Na+ and 0.122 M Na+, 1mM Mg2+, respectively. van't Hoff plots of the thermal denaturation data gave enthalpies for the helix-coil transition of 21,600 cal (ca. 90,500 J) per mol of cooperatively melting unit in high salt and 19,600 cal (ca. 82,100 J) per mol in low salt, consistent with both base stacking and pairing. The melting of Mu LV RNA occurred over a broad temprange and van't Hoff plots were linear over most of the melting range, indicating a noncooperative process of helix stabilization.

Infectious viral DNA of murine leukemia virus

A fraction of the unintegrated viral DNA that appears early after infection of mouse cells by Moloney leukemia virus is infectious. The infectivity could be deomonstrated by an XC plaque assay of the cells exposed to DNA co-precipitated with calcium phosphate. The number of plaques deriving from closed-circular, supercoiled DNA was proportional to the concentration of added DNA, indicating that a single DNA molecule of about 5.5 X 10(6) daltons carries all the viral information. Nonsupercoiled viral DNA is also infectious; these molecules appear to be largely double-stranded and 5 to 6 X 10(6) dalthons in mass.

In vitro synthesis of full-length DNA transcripts of Rous sarcoma virus RNA by viral DNA polymerase

Varying the concentration of Triton X-100, a nonionic detergent used to promote the DNA polymerase activity of Rous sarcoma virus in an endogenous reaction, showed a very sharp peak at about 0.02% (vol/vol) for optimal DNA synthesis. The yield of DNA at this concentration of Triton exceeded yields obtained at concentrations above the optimum by a factor of 2-5 for the 90-min reaction. At optimal Triton concentration, about 1-7% of the DNA made in the absence of actinomycin and about 4-10% of the DNA made in the presence of actinomycin was 2.5 X 10(6) daltons or greater, as estimated by formamide polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and by alkaline sucrose gradient sedimentation. No large DNA was obtained at higher than optimal Triton concentrations. The large DNA molecules were rendered totally resistant to single-strand specific nuclease S1 after hybridization to an excess of viral RNA. It was concluded that at optimal detergent concentration, the viral DNA polymerase can synthesize full-size DNA transcripts of viral RNA.

Differential expression of helper viral structural polypeptides in cells transformed by clonal isolates of woolly monkey sarcoma virus

Cell lines transformed by woolly monkey sarcoma virus (WSV) in the absence of infectious virus production were analyzed for the expression of woolly monkey helper viral p30, p12, and gp70 antigens. Several lines produced high levels of both p30 and p12, whereas gp70 was not detectable. One transformed clone expressed only p12, and in another cell line, none of the helper viral antigens were detected. The properties of each sarcoma virus bred true upon transmission, indicating that each variant represents a distinct genotype. The different cell lines were examined with respect to properties characteristic of the transformed state. The in vitro growth properties and oncogenicity of each WSV-transformed clone were indistinguishable, indicating that transformation by WSV occurs independently of the expression of at least three helper viral polypeptides.

Mason-Pfizer monkey virus: analysis and localization of virion proteins and glycoproteins

The polypeptide composition of Mason-Pfizer monkey virus was determined using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Six major polypeptides of molecular weights 68,000, 27,000, 20,000, 14,000, 12,000, and 10,000 were resolved regardless of the cell type (i.e., two human and two rhesus) in which the virus was grown. Protein gp68 (68,000) represented the major virus glycoprotein and protein gp20 (20,000) represented a minor glycoprotein of the virion, again regardless of the cell type of origin of the virus. Protein gp68 appears to be located on the outer surface of the viral envelope, as demonstrated by lactoperoxidase catalyzed iodination of intact virions. Additional glycoproteins were shown to be virion associated; their presence depended, however, on the cell type in which the virus was propagated.

Mapping RNase T1-resistant oligonucleotides of avian tumor virus RNAs: sarcoma-specific oligonucleotides are near the poly(A) end and oligonucleotides common to sarcoma and transformation-defective viruses are at the poly(A) end

The large RNase T1-resistant oligonucleotides of the nondefective (nd) Rous sarcoma virus (RSV): Prague RSV of subgroup B (PR-B), PR-C and B77 of subgroup C; of their transformation-defective (td0 deletion mutants: td PR-B, td PR-C, and td B77; and of replication-defective (rd) RSV(-) were completely or partially mapped on the 30 to 40S viral RNAs. The location of a given oligonucleotide relative to the poly(A) terminus of the viral RNAs was directly deduced from the smallest size of the poly(A)-tagged RNA fragment from which it could be isolated. Identification of distinct oligonucleotides was based on their location in the electrophoretic/chromatographic fingerprint pattern and on analysis of their RNase A-resistant fragments. The following results were obtained. (i) The number of large oligonucleotides per poly(A)-tagged ffagment increased with increasing size of the fragment. This implies that the genetic map is linear and that a given RNase T1-resistant oligonucleotides has, relative to the poly(A) end, the same location on all 30 to 40S RNA subunits of a given 60 to 70S viral RNA complex, (ii) Three sarcoma-specific oligonucleotides were identified in the RNAs of Pr-B, PR-C and B77 by comparison with the RNAs of the corresponding td viruses...

Identification of the 5' end of Rous sarcoma virus RNA

The 5'-terminal triphosphate of the 35S RNA isolated from Rous sarcoma virus is blocked by 7-methylguanosine in 5' linkage with the penultimate nucleoside which is methylated in the 2'-O-ribose position, a type of endgroup found in all animal mRNAs investigated during the past year. The specific nuclease-resistant terminal fragment of RSV RNA has the structure 7mG5'ppp5'GmpCp-. This finding supports the belief that RNA of Rous sarcoma virus represents a (+) strand messenger which may be directly translated upon infection.

Site on the RNA of an avian sarcoma virus at which primer is bound

In vitro transcription of the avian tumor virus RNA by RNA-directed DNA polymerase is initiated on the unique cellular 4S RNA. Previous studies have shown that on the average there is one such RNA primer hydrogen bonded to each viral 35S RNA. The present study confirms that finding and demonstrates that, at least for the majority of 35S RNA molecules, the primer is bound at a site close to the 5'-terminus.

RNA of replication-defective strains of Rous sarcoma virus

The RNA of a replication-defective (rd) mutant, isolated from stocks of nondefective (nd) Schmidt-Ruppin Rous sarcoma virus of subgroup A (SR-A) and termed SR-N8, was compared to the RNAs of SR-A, of a transformation-defective derivative of SR-A (td SR-A) and of rd Bryan Rous sarcoma virus, RSV (minus). The molecular mass of the 30-40S species of SR-N8 RNA was estimated to be 21% (congruent to 7.5 to 8 times 10-5 daltons) smaller than that of SR-A by (i) electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gels and (ii) analyses of RNA complexity based on RNase T1-resistant oligonucleotides. ST-N8 shares probably all (=14) of its large RNase T1-resistant oligonucleotides with the RNA of SR-A as judged from the chromatographic distribution and the RNase A-resistant fragments obtained from RNase T1-resistant oligonucleotides. However, SR-N8 RNA lacked six large oligonucleotides which were present in the RNAs of SR-A and td SR-A. Conversely, the RNAs of SR-A, and of SR-N8 contained two oligonucleotides not found in td SR-A. The RNA of SR-N8 was found to differ from that of RSV (minus) in its electrophoretic mobility and its fingerprint pattern. It is concluded that the RNA of SR-N8 was generated by a deletion of SR-A. The extent of this deletion is compatible with the notion that the genetic information for the large viral envelope glycoprotein (molecular mass = 70,000-85,000 daltons) has been lost from the RNA of SR-A to yield SR-N8 RNA. From a comparison of td and rd deletion mutants, it appears that loss of different functions corresponds to the absence of different oligonucleotides in their RNA.

Translation of Rous sarcoma virus RNA in a cell-free system from ascites Krebs II cells

The template activities of the 60-70S RNA complex and of the 30-40S subunit RNA species of Rous sarcoma virus were tested in a cell-free protein-synthesizing system from mouse ascites Krebs II cells. Stimulation of protein synthesis over the endogenous background was about 2-fold with 30-40S viral RNA and about 1.3-fold with 60-70S viral RNA as template. Analysis by sodium dodecyl sulfate-gel electrophoresis showed that the predominant polypeptide synthesized in vitro in response to 30-40S RNA of Rous sarcoma virus had a molecular weight of 75,000-80,000. This polypeptide could be precipitated by antiserum against the group-specific antigens of the virus, although its molecular weight is higher than that of virion group-specific antigen proteins. Analysis of tryptic digests of the protein made in vitro indicates similarity to tryptic digests from authentic virion group-specific proteins. It is concluded that part of the RNA from Rous sarcoma virus is translated in vitro into a high-molecular-weight protein, perhaps a precursor of the virion group-specific proteins.

Studies on the reverse transcriptase of RNA tumor viruses. Structural relatedness of two subunits of avian RNA tumor viruses

The structural relationship of the small (alpha) and large (beta) subunits of reverse transcriptase isolated from two avian RNA tumor viruses has been examined by tryptic peptide analysis. Comparison of the tryptic hydrolysates of the isolated subunits by two-dimensional separation on thin-layer cellulose plates indicates that (i) the alpha subunit of reverse transcriptase of avian myeloblastosis virus is structurally related to the beta subunit; (ii) the alpha and beta subunits of the enzyme of Rous sarcoma virus also appear to be related; and (iii) there appears to be an extensive amino-acid sequence homology between reverse transcriptases of avian myeloblastosis virus and Rous sarcoma virus. Evidence is also presented that both alpha and beta subunits can be identified in purified avian myeloblastosis virions.

Characterization of the end groups of RNA of Rous sarcoma virus

The 3' terminus of the 30-35S RNA of Rous sarcoma virus is adenosine. Its amount indicates an average molecular weight for that RNA of about 3 x 10(6). The 5' terminus of 30-35S RNA of Rous sarcoma virus was not di- or triphosphorylated, whether isolated by the standard procedure or from virus collected within 3 min of its release from the cells.