High molecular weight precursor polypeptides to structural proteins of Rauscher murine leukemia virus

Furin cleavage of the Moloney murine leukemia virus Env precursor reorganizes the spike structure

The trimeric Moloney murine leukemia virus Env protein matures by two proteolytic cleavages. First, furin cleaves the Env precursor into the surface (SU) and transmembrane (TM) subunits in the cell and then the viral protease cleaves the R-peptide from TM in new virus. Here we analyzed the structure of the furin precursor, by cryoelectron microscopy. We transfected 293T cells with a furin cleavage site provirus mutant, R466G/K468G, and produced the virus in the presence of amprenavir to also inhibit the R-peptide cleavage. Although Env incorporation into particles was inhibited, enough precursor could be isolated and analyzed by cryoelectron microscopy to yield a 3D structure at 22 Å resolution. This showed an open cage-like structure like that of the R-peptide precursor and the mature Env described before. However, the middle protrusion of the protomeric unit, so prominently pointing out from the side of the more mature forms of the Env, was absent. Instead, there was extra density in the top protrusion. This suggested that the C-terminal SU domain was associated alongside the receptor binding N-terminal SU domain in the furin precursor. This was supported by mapping with a SU C-terminal domain-specific antigen binding fragment. We concluded that furin cleavage not only separates the subunits and liberates the fusion peptide at the end of TM but also allows the C-terminal domain to relocate into a peripheral position. This conformational change might explain how the C-terminal domain of SU gains the potential to undergo disulfide isomerization, an event that facilitates membrane fusion.

Functional complementation of a model target to study Vpu sensitivity

HIV-1 forms infectious particles with Murine Leukemia virus (MLV) Env, but not with the closely related Gibbon ape Leukemia Virus (GaLV) Env. We have determined that the incompatibility between HIV-1 and GaLV Env is primarily caused by the HIV-1 accessory protein Vpu, which prevents GaLV Env from being incorporated into particles. We have characterized the ‘Vpu sensitivity sequence’ in the cytoplasmic tail domain (CTD) of GaLV Env using a chimeric MLV Env with the GaLV Env CTD (MLV/GaLV Env). Vpu sensitivity is dependent on an alpha helix with a positively charged face containing at least one Lysine. In the present study, we utilized functional complementation to address whether all the three helices in the CTD of an Env trimer have to contain the Vpu sensitivity motif for the trimer to be modulated by Vpu. Taking advantage of the functional complementation of the binding defective (D84K) and fusion defective (L493V) MLV and MLV/GaLV Env mutants, we were able to assay the activity of mixed trimers containing both MLV and GaLV CTDs. Mixed trimers containing both MLV and GaLV CTDs were functionally active and remained sensitive to Vpu. However, trimers containing an Env with the GaLV CTD and an Env with no CTD remained functional but were resistant to Vpu. Together these data suggest that the presence of at least one GaLV CTD is sufficient to make an Env trimer sensitive to Vpu, but only if it is part of a trimeric CTD complex.

Maturation cleavage of the murine leukemia virus Env precursor separates the transmembrane subunits to prime it for receptor triggering

The Env protein of murine leukemia virus matures by two cleavage events. First, cellular furin separates the receptor binding surface (SU) subunit from the fusion-active transmembrane (TM) subunit and then, in the newly assembled particle, the viral protease removes a 16-residue peptide, the R-peptide from the endodomain of the TM. Both cleavage events are required to prime the Env for receptor-triggered activation. Cryoelectron microscopy (cryo-EM) analyses have shown that the mature Env forms an open cage-like structure composed of three SU-TM complexes, where the TM subunits formed separated Env legs. Here we have studied the structure of the R-peptide precursor Env by cryo-EM. TM cleavage in Moloney murine leukemia virus was inhibited by amprenavir, and the Envs were solubilized in Triton X-100 and isolated by sedimentation in a sucrose gradient. We found that the legs of the R-peptide Env were held together by trimeric interactions at the very bottom of the Env. This suggested that the R-peptide ties the TM legs together and that this prevents the activation of the TM for fusion. The model was supported by further cryo-EM studies using an R-peptide Env mutant that was fusion-competent despite an uncleaved R-peptide. The Env legs of this mutant were found to be separated, like in the mature Env. This shows that it is the TM leg separation, normally caused by R-peptide cleavage, that primes the Env for receptor triggering.

Cooperative cleavage of the R peptide in the Env trimer of Moloney murine leukemia virus facilitates its maturation for fusion competence

The spike protein of murine leukemia virus, MLV, is made as a trimer of the Env precursor. This is primed for receptor-induced activation of its membrane fusion function first by cellular furin cleavage in the ectodomain and then by viral protease cleavage in the endodomain. The first cleavage separates the peripheral surface (SU) subunit from the transmembrane (TM) subunit, and the latter releases a 16-residue-long peptide (R) from the TM endodomain. Here, we have studied the distribution of R peptide cleavages in the spike TM subunits of Moloney MLV preparations with partially R-peptide-processed spikes. The spikes were solubilized as trimers and separated with an R peptide antibody. This showed that the spikes were either uncleaved or cleaved in all of its TM subunits. Further studies showed that R peptide cleavage-inhibited Env mutants, L(649)V and L(649)I, were rescued by wild-type (wt) Env in heterotrimeric spikes. These findings suggested that the R peptide cleavages in the spike are facilitated through positive allosteric cooperativity; i.e., the cleavage of the TM subunit in one Env promoted the cleavages of the TMs in the other Envs. The mechanism ensures that protease cleavage in newly released virus will generate R-peptide-cleaved homotrimers rather than heterotrimeric intermediates. However, using a cleavage site Env mutant, L(649)R, which was not rescued by wt Env, it was possible to produce virus with heterotrimers. These were shown to be less fusion active than the R-peptide-cleaved homotrimers. Therefore, the cooperative cleavage will speed up the maturation of released virus for fusion competence.

Furin cleavage potentiates the membrane fusion-controlling intersubunit disulfide bond isomerization activity of leukemia virus Env

The membrane fusion protein of murine leukemia virus is a trimer of a disulfide-linked peripheral-transmembrane (SU-TM) subunit complex. The intersubunit disulfide bond is in SU linked to a disulfide bond isomerization motif, CXXC, with which the virus controls its fusion reaction (M. Wallin, M. Ekström, and H. Garoff, EMBO J. 23:54-65, 2004). Upon receptor binding the isomerase rearranges the intersubunit disulfide bond into a disulfide bond isomer within the motif. This facilitates SU dissociation and fusion activation in the TM subunit. In the present study we have asked whether furin cleavage of the Env precursor potentiates the isomerase to be triggered. To this end we accumulated the late form of the precursor, gp90, in the cell by incubation in the presence of a furin-inhibiting peptide. The isomerization was done by NP-40 incubation or by a heat pulse under alkylation-free conditions. The cells were lysed in the presence of alkylator, and the precursor was immunoprecipitated, gel isolated, deglycosylated, and subjected to complete trypsin digestion. Disulfide-linked peptide complexes were separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-tricine-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under nonreducing conditions. This assay revealed the size of the characteristic major disulfide-linked peptide complex that differentiates the two isomers of the disulfide bond between Cys336 (or Cys339) and Cys563, i.e., the bond corresponding to the intersubunit disulfide bond. The analyses showed that the isomerase was five- to eightfold more resistant to triggering in the precursor than in the mature, cleaved form. This suggests that the isomerase becomes potentiated for triggering by a structural change in Env that is induced by furin cleavage in the cell.

Large-scale purification of gp70 from Moloney murine leukemia virus

The external envelope glycoprotein, gp70, of the Moloney murine leukemia virus was extracted from NIH 3T3 cells utilizing the detergent n-octyl-beta-D-glycopyranoside. The extracted gp70 was sequentially purified utilizing lectin-affinity, anion-exchange, and molecular-exclusion chromatography techniques. Approximately 10 mg of gp70 was purified by this method and shown to be 95% homogeneous, as assessed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The presence of purified gp70 from Moloney murine leukemia virus was confirmed by amino acid analysis, amino-terminal sequencing, and immunoreactivity with a monoclonal antibody raised against gp70. The procedure is rapid, utilizes commercially available media, and can be used to purify large amounts of retroviral envelope glycoprotein from virus.

Epididymis is a principal site of retrovirus expression in the mouse

High levels of retrovirus particles are present in the reproductive tract of male mice. In this report epithelial cells that line the lumen of the epididymis are shown to be a principal site of virus synthesis. Aggregates of free virus were evident in the epididymal lumen in addition to the sperm-associated virus previously reported. Large intraluminal cells with characteristics of macrophages and engorged with virus particles were also seen. Virus particles were not detected in testis, liver, brain, or spleen. Thus, the epididymal epithelium is a principal reservoir for retrovirus expression. The virus would be ejaculated as free, cell-associated, and sperm-bound particles. The high level of expression and the relative isolation of epididymal virus from the immune system may relate to venereal transmission of retrovirus infections in mice and humans.

Monoclonal antibody to the amino-terminal L sequence of murine leukemia virus glycosylated gag polyproteins demonstrates their unusual orientation in the cell membrane

To analyze cell surface murine leukemia virus gag protein expression, we have prepared monoclonal antibodies against the spontaneous AKR T lymphoma KKT-2. One of these antibodies, 43-13, detects an AKR-specific viral p12 determinant. A second monoclonal antibody, 43-17, detects a novel murine leukemia virus-related antigen found on glycosylated gag polyproteins (gp95gag, gp85gag, and gp55gag) on the surface of cells infected with and producing ecotropic endogenous viruses, but does not detect antigens within these virions. The 43-17 antibody immunoprecipitates the precursor of the cell surface gag protein whether in its glycosylated or unglycosylated state, but does not detect the cytoplasmic precursor of the virion gag proteins (Pr65gag). Based on these findings, we have localized the 43-17 determinant to the unique amino-terminal part of the glycosylated gag polyprotein (the L domain). We have determined that gp95gag contains L-p15-p12-p30-p10 determinants, whereas gp85gag lacks the carboxyterminal p10 determinant, and gp55gag lacks both p30 and p10 carboxy terminal determinants. Analysis of cell surface gag expression with the 43-17 antibody leads us to propose that the L domain plays a crucial role in (i) the insertion and orientation of murine leukemia virus gag polyproteins in the cell membrane and (ii) the relative abundance of expression of AKR leukemia virus versus Moloney murine leukemia virus glycosylated gag polyproteins in infected cells.

The pathophysiology of murine retrovirus-induced leukemias

Murine leukemia viruses (MuLVs) are retroviruses which induce a broad spectrum of hematopoietic malignancies. In contrast to the acutely transforming retroviruses, MuLVs do not contain transduced cellular genes, or oncogenes. Nonetheless, MuLVs can cause leukemias quickly (4 to 6 weeks) and efficiently (up to 100% incidence) in susceptible strains of mice. The molecular basis of MuLV-induced leukemia is not clear. However, the contribution of individual viral genes to leukemogenesis can be assayed by creating novel viruses in vitro using recombinant DNA techniques. These genetically engineered viruses are tested in vivo for their ability to cause leukemia. Leukemogenic MuLVs possess genetic sequences which are not found in nonleukemogenic viruses. These sequences control the histologic type, incidence, and latency of disease induced by individual MuL Vs.

Studies with inhibitors of oligosaccharide processing indicate a functional role for complex sugars in the transport and proteolysis of Friend mink cell focus-inducing murine leukemia virus envelope proteins

The functions of asparagine-linked oligosaccharides on the PrENV protein of Friend mink cell focus-inducing (FrMCF-1) murine leukemia virus were investigated by examining the effect of two inhibitors of different stages of the biosynthetic pathway of these sugar substituents on the synthesis and processing of the viral proteins. Treatment of virus-producing cells with tunicamycin totally inhibited the glycosylation of PrEnv, and resulted in the formation of a nonglycosylated form of the protein of molecular weight 62 kDa. This component was not proteolytically processed inside the cells, and neither it nor any derivative proteins were incorporated into extracellular virions. Treatment of cells with 1-deoxynojirimycin (DNM), which inhibits the cellular glucosidases normally involved in removal of the three glucose residues present on the initially transferred oligosaccharide chains, resulted in the intracellular accumulation of a slightly larger than normal form of PrENV, and decreased levels of cell-associated gp70. Only gp70 was detected on the cell surface. The bulk of the gp70 produced in the presence of the drug was aberrantly glycosylated, and contained decreased levels of complex and increased numbers of high mannose oligosaccharides; almost all of the gp70 molecules however, contained at least one complex sugar chain. Decreased incorporation of both env and gag proteins into extracellular virions was observed, despite the fact that the gag proteins were processed normally intracellularly; in contrast, DNM treatment of Gazdar murine sarcoma virus-infected HTG2 cells, which produce only gag but not env proteins, did not inhibit the release of extracellular virus. Ultrastructural examination of FrMCF-infected cells treated with DNM indicated the presence of large numbers of intracytoplasmic vacuoles, many of which contained viral particles. These studies indicate that the normal maturation process involved in the formation of complex oligosaccharides is necessary to obtain efficient transport to the plasma membrane and proteolysis of PrEnv, and also provide evidence suggesting a role for the env proteins in regulating assembly of gag proteins into virions.

The expression of the env gene-related gp66 in mouse cells infected with the helper independent Friend leukemia virus is restricted to the myelomonocytic and mastocytic lineages

The presence of a gp66 closely related to the Friend ecotropic murine leukemia virus gp70 (F-MuLV) has recently been reported (D. Mathieu-Mahul, J. M. Heard, S. Fichelson, S. Gisselbrecht, B. Sola, and C. J. Larsen (1982) virology 119, 59-67). In the present work, characterization of this gp66 was continued. First, immunoprecipitation tests, using cytoplasmic membrane subfractions from one of the myelomonocytic cell lines in which gp66 was first detected, indicated that most of it was associated with rough endoplasmic reticulum. Second, to define the limits of gp66 expression, a variety of hemopoietic cell lines were analyzed for gp66 content. These lines were obtained (a) from various tumors (including erythroleukemias, chloroleukemias, and lymphatic leukemias) induced in susceptible mice by F-MuLV and (b) from long-term bone marrow cultures (LTBMC) infected with F-MuLV. In the latter case, lines of adherent fibroblastoid cells and nonadherent cells with myelomonocytic and mastocytic characteristics were obtained. Although several F-MuLV isolates were used, gp66 was only expressed in myelomonocytic and mastocytic cells. This did not result from in vitro culture conditions as gp66 was also found in fresh cells. These data suggested that a particular processing of the env gene product may exist in both myelomonocytic and mastocytic cell lines. In agreement with this hypothesis, a metabolically unstable gp62 related to MCF gp70 was found in one myelomonocytic cell line expressing MCF virus.

Construction and characterization of Moloney murine leukemia virus mutants unable to synthesize glycosylated gag polyprotein

Murine leukemia virus (MuLV) encodes two independent pathways for expression of the gag gene. One pathway results in processing and cleavage of the precursor Pr65gag to yield the internal capsid proteins of the virion and is analogous to gag polyprotein precursors for all classes of retroviruses. The other pathway, which is not encoded by several other classes of retroviruses, begins with a glycosylated polyprotein gPr80gag . gPr80gag is synthesized independently of Pr65gag; it contains Pr65gag peptides and additional amino-terminal protein. It is modified by further addition of carbohydrate, exported to the cell surface, and released from the cell but does not appear in virus particles. To investigate the role of glycosylated gag in MuLV infection, two mutants of Moloney MuLV (M-MuLV) deficient for synthesis of gPr80gag but able to synthesize Pr65gag were constructed. The mutants were obtained by substitution into a molecular clone of M-MuLV DNA by DNA from two acutely transforming viruses, Ableson MuLV (Ab-MuLV) and Moloney murine sarcoma virus (M-MSV). Both Ab-MuLV and M-MSV are derived from M-MuLV and they express M-MuLV gag sequences, but some strains do not synthesize glycosylated gag protein. For Ab-MuLV, a 177-base-pair Pst I fragment from the P90 strain containing the initiation codon for Pr65gag was substituted for the equivalent fragment in M-MuLV DNA. For M-MSV, 1.5 kilobases at the 5' end of the genome was substituted. Transfection of the recombined DNAs onto NIH-3T3 cells produced infectious M-MuLV, although the infected cells did not produce gPr80gag. Therefore glycosylated gag is not absolutely required for MuLV replication. Deletion of the glycosylated gag pathway did not significantly reduce the level of virus production, although a minor difference in XC plaque morphology was observed.

Topography of murine leukemia virus envelope proteins: characterization of transmembrane components

Trypsinization of intact Moloney murine leukemia virus resulted in cleavage of p15(E) and Pr15(E) at a site near the middle of the molecule, producing a 9,000-dalton amino-terminal fragment which contains the disulfide linkage site to gp70 and which carries p15(E) epitopes b and c, but not epitope a. After solubilization of the viral membrane, trypsinization occurred at a second site within 1,000 daltons of the carboxy end of p15(E). This site is not exposed in intact virions, indicating that p15(E) and Pr15(E) are transmembrane proteins.

Nucleotide sequence of the envelope gene of Friend murine leukemia virus

The envelope gene of the helper-independent, highly leukemogenic virus Friend murine leukemia virus was sequenced by using a molecular clone of a Friend murine leukemia provirus. The deduced amino acid sequences of the envelope proteins gp70 and p15env were homologous to the sequences of Moloney murine leukemia virus (86%) and Akv (76%). However, a stretch of about 40 amino acid residues near the middle of gp70 was dissimilar in Friend and Moloney murine leukemia viruses and Akv. In this type-specific region the gp70s of all three viruses contained more than 30% proline residues, giving this sequence a very rigid conformation. We suggest that this rigid and highly variable region of gp70 participates in infection by recognition of cell surface receptors and, in addition, might contribute to the different oncogenic spectra of murine leukemia viruses.

Nucleotide sequence of the 3' half of AKV

We report the nucleotide sequence of the 3' half of the ecotropic murine leukemia virus AKV genome. To obtain a preliminary sequence, we developed a sequencing strategy whereby a nested set of restriction fragments is chemically modified prior to gel purification and strand scission. The sequence defines the genetic map of the 3' half of AKV and locates recombinant regions previously identified in structural analyses of MCF viruses.

Precursor polypeptides to structural proteins of visna virus

Visna virus is a retrovirus which replicates in fibroblast-like cells of the sheep choroid plexus through a lytic cycle. Visna virions contain three major low-molecular-weight proteins (p30, p16, and p14) which, together with the genomic RNA and several molecules of reverse transcriptase, constitute the core structure of the virions. The core is surrounded by an envelope containing a major glycoprotein (gp135). By analogy with the oncoviruses, these three groups of structural proteins (i.e., the internal proteins, the envelope glycoprotein, and the reverse transcriptase) are probably encoded by the gag, env, and pol genes, respectively. To elucidate the genetic organization of the visna virus genome and its expression, we studied the synthesis of viral proteins in infected sheep choroid plexus cells. Intracellular viral proteins were detected by immunoprecipitation of pulse-labeled cell extracts with monospecific sera raised against p30, p16, and gp135 and resolution of the proteins by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Immunoprecipitation with anti-p30 and anti-p16 sera allowed the characterization of the 55,000-dalton polypeptide precursor to internal virion proteins p30, p16, and p14 (Pr55(gag)). Tryptic peptide mapping confirmed the precursor-product relationship between Pr55(gag) and the three internal proteins. In addition, a gag-related polypeptide of 150,000 daltons was also detected. This polypeptide, which was less abundant than Pr55(gag), is a likely precursor to the viral reverse transcriptase (Pr150(gag-pol)). Pr55(gag) and Pr150(gag-pol) are not glycosylated. The precursor related to major envelope protein gp135 is a glycosylated polypeptide with an average molecular weight of 150,000 (gPr150(env)). Pulse-chase experiments indicated that gPr150(env) matures into glycoprotein gp135 intracellularly; however, gp135 was never preponderant in cell extracts. The non-glycosylated from of gPr150(env), which accumulated in the presence of 2-deoxy-d-glucose, appeared as a polypeptide of about 100,000 daltons. These results indicated that visna virus codes for the largest non-glycosylated env-related precursor among all of the retroviruses and therefore probably contains the largest env gene.

Glycoproteins of murine leukemia viruses. III. Glycosylation of env precursor glycoproteins

We have compared the glycopeptides obtained after extensive pronase digestion of the env precursors (PrENV proteins) of ecotropic, xenotropic, and dual-tropic murine leukemia viruses. Two glycopeptide size classes, having molecular weights of approximately 2,200 and 1,500, were shown to be associated with the PrENV proteins of all murine leukemia viruses studied. Glycopeptides associated with the env precursors were totally susceptible to endo-beta-N-acetyglucosaminidase H. Analysis by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of partial endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase H digestion products of the env precursor of dual-tropic mink cell focus-forming virus (MCF 247) revealed the presence of seven bands, suggesting that six glycosylation sites were present on the precursor molecule. The MCF 247 PrENV protein had been previously shown to be accessible to lactoperoxidase-catalyzed radioiodination on the surface of infected cells. The cell surface PrENV molecules had the same electrophoretic mobility as pulse-labeled PrENV protein, and after endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase H treatment a similar shift in electrophoretic mobility was observed for the cell surface PrENV protein and the pulse-labeled precursors, a finding which indicated that the PrENV protein located on the cell surface also possessed only mannose-rich oligosaccharides. These results indicated that the env precursor glycoproteins of dual-tropic viruses had the unusual property of migrating to the cell surface without undergoing the normal oligosaccharide processing and proteolytic cleavage events that had been observed for ecotropic and xenotropic murine leukemia virus glycoproteins.

Replication-defective Friend murine leukemia virus particles containing uncleaved gag polyproteins and decreased levels of envelope glycoprotein

An erythroleukemia cell clone, 7C, which failed to produce reverse transcriptase-containing virions or infectious virus, was found to produce noninfectious virus particles by gradient banding of [3H]leucine- and [3H]uridine-labeled virions. The RNA from the 7C virus was shown to consist of the normal 70S size component, which converted to 35S upon heat denaturation. In contrast, the 7C virion proteins showed multiple defects. Analysis of the virion proteins by gel electrophoresis demonstrated that the pr65 gag precursor was incorporated into the 7C virus and that the processing of this precursor was severely diminished. Polymerase proteins pr180gag-pol and pr120pol were also detected in virions, and a third possible polymerase protein, p70, was reduced in size compared to its normal counterpart, p80. Incorporation of the viral gp70 glycoprotein into particles was also reduced 10-fold, despite synthesis and incorporation of gp70 into the 7C cell membrane in normal amounts. Pulse-chase analysis of the synthesis of the viral gag and env proteins in 7C cells showed greatly reduced amounts of pr180gag-pol, pr65gag, p80gag, and p42gag, whereas pr90env, gp70, and spleen focus-forming virus-specific gp55 were synthesized and processed normally. These results suggested that at least one defect in 7C virus was impaired cleavage of gag or pol proteins or both, most likely due to a lack of the appropriate viral protease, and that this lack of cleavage might affect incorporation of gp70 into virus particles.

Malignancies of metastatic murine lymphosarcoma cell lines and clones correlate with decreased cell surface display of RNA tumor virus envelope glycoprotein gp70

Variant sublines of the murine lymphosarcoma RAW117 have been derived by sequential cycles of intravenous inoculation of cells and harvesting of solid liver tumors in syngeneic BALB/c mice [Brunson K. W. & Nicolson, G. L. (1978) J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 61, 1499-1503] and also by sequential removal of lectin-reactive cells via repeated adsorption on immobilized-lectins [Reading, C. L. Belloni, P. N. & Nicolson, G. L. (1980) J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 64, 1241-1249]. These cell sublines and their clones were analyzed for abilities to form gross liver tumor metastases after injection intravenously or subcutaneously into syngeneic mice, and this response was related to certain cell surface properties including quantities of viral antigens and lectin-binding sites, exposure of specific cell surface proteins, and quantities of cell surface glycoproteins visualized in gels with 125I-labeled lectins or antibodies. Consistent differences were obtained between RAW117 sublines of low and high malignancy with respect to the amounts or exposures of cell surface glycoprotein components of Mr approximately 70,000 or 69,000 and 71,000, depending on the gel system. Competition radioimmunoassays for RNA tumor virus antigens in the RAW117 lines and clones indicated the presence of Moloney murine leukemic virus antigens gp70, p30, and p12. Enhanced malignancy and metastasis to liver was accompanied by decreases in the cellular contents of viral antigens and loss of gp70 cell surface exposure. Analysis of several clones obtained from sublines selected in vivo and in vitro for high or low malignancy confirmed the inverse relationship between metastasis and expression of gp70 in this system.

Glycopeptides of murine leukemia viruses. II. Comparison of xenotropic and dual-tropic viruses

The glycosylation patterns of the gp70 glycoproteins of xenotropic and dualtropic murine leukemia virus (MuLV) were compared with those of ecotropic viruses. Ecotropic viruses contain a large glycopeptide size class designated G1 (molecular weight, approximately 5100), and such glycopeptides were not detected in xenotropic viruses grown in mink cells nor in dual-tropic viruses grown in mouse or mink lung cells. Both xenotropic and dual-tropic MuLV had glycopeptide size classes designated G2, G3, and G4 (molecular weights, approximately 2900, 2,200, and 1,500, respectively). G2 glycopeptides of xenotropic and dual-tropic MuLV were shown to be resistant to endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase H, whereas G3 and G4 glycopeptides were susceptible. The relative abudance of glycopeptide G3 was increased in xenotropic and dual-tropic viruses as compared with ecotropic viruses, whereas the relative amount of G4 was decreased in xenotropic viruses. The similarity in the glycosylation patterns of a number of xenotropic and dual-tropic viruses suggests that glycosylation sites are highly conserved within the env gene products of each of these classes of viruses.

Effect of canavanine on murine retrovirus polypeptide formation

Canavanine is an arginine analog which is widely used to inhibit proteolytic processing of viral polyproteins. Certain results obtained with canavanine have suggested that it may have other effects. Therefore, we examined the effects of canavanine on the cell-free synthesis of murine retrovirus proteins. It was found that the electrophoretic mobility of the major gag-related cell-free product of both Rauscher murine leukemia virus (R-MuLV) and Moloney murine sarcoma virus 124 (Mo-MuSV-124) RNA was dependent on the concentration of canavanine used during translation. As the canavanine concentration was increased up to 4 mM, the apparent size of the major gag-related polypeptide also increased from 65,000 (R-MuLV RNA) or 63,000 (Mo-MuSV-124 RNA) to approximately 80,000 daltons. Additional increases in the canavanine concentration up to 12 mM did not increase the size of the gag gene product beyond 80,000 daltons. This change in electrophoretic mobility appeared to be due to a substitution of canavanine for arginine residues in the polypeptides, not to a change in their actual size. If amber suppressor tRNA and canavanine were used together during translation of Mo-MuSV-124 RNA and Mo-MuLV RNA, the results were also in agreement with this proposal. Translation experiments done with ovalbumin mRNA and mengovirus 35S RNA indicated that canavanine incorporation caused a shift in the electrophoretic mobility of ovalbumin from 43,000 to 45,000 daltons and caused the appearance of two slightly larger polypeptides in the 155,000- and 115,000- dalton regions of the mengovirus RNA cell-free product.

Envelope polypeptides of Friend leukemia virus: purification and structural analysis

Roughly 10% of surface glycoproteins in the envelope of mature Friend murine leukemia virus are coupled to membrane polypeptides by disulfide bridges. The remaining 90% of these glycoproteins are associated noncovalently. However, they could also be linked to membrane polypeptides by the treatment of purified Friend murine leukemia virus with 2,2'dithiobis(m-nitropyridine). These amphiphilic heterodimer polypeptides, gp84/86, were recovered almost quantitatively in the form of aggregates, termed rosettes, when prepared by solubilization of the viral membrane with Triton X-100 and subsequent velocity sedimentation. gp69/71 and p12(E)/15(E) were purified from these protein micelles after reduction of the disulfide bonds by gel chromatography. Electron micrographs of rosettes, as well as of purified p12(E)/15(E), showed structures different from native viral knobs. Isolated gp84/86 could be reassociated and then displayed more similarity to these viral surface projections. As shown by peptide mapping, the primary structures of the glycoproteins gp69/71 are highly related as are those of the membrane polypeptides p12(E) and p15(E). Furthermore, it was shown by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and re-electrophoresis of purified gp84/86 that the larger component, gp86, was composed of gp71 associated with p15(E) and p12(E), whereas the smaller component, gp84, was formed by gp69 bound only to p12(E).

A murine leukemia virus mutant with a temperature-sensitive defect in membrane glycoprotein synthesis

Cells infected with a temperature-sensitive mutant (ts-26) of Rauscher murine leukemia virus (R-MuLV) or with wild-type virus were labeled with 35S-methionine, and cell extracts were examined for radioactive polypeptides which could be precipitated by monospecific antisera to viral proteins. When shifted from permissive (31 degrees C) to nonpermissive (39 degrees C) temperature, cells infected with ts-26 rapidly begin to accumulate gPr90enr, the glycoprotein precursor to the membrane envelope glycoprotein gp70 and to the membrane-associated protein p15E. Simultaneously, formation of these mature virion proteins ceases. In addition, lactoperoxidase-catalyzed surface labeling with 125I--iodine indicates that the plasma membrane of cells infected with ts-26 becomes depleted of gp70 antigens at 39 degrees C. Nevertheless, at 39 degrees C these cells release defective MuLVs which lack gp70 and p15E but contain an outer membrane. The released particles also contain an aberrantly processed form of the major virion core protein p30, and many of these virion cores have an unusual immature crescent shape. It has previously been reported that cells infected with the ts-26 mutant of R-MuLV process a 65,000 dalton precursor (Pr65gag) of the virion core proteins more slowly at 39 degrees C than do cells infected with wild-type virus (Stephenson, Tronick and Aaronson, 1975). Although we have confirmed these results, this effect is relatively small and it is known that various alterations of MuLV assembly can lead secondarily to inhibited processing of Pr65gag. We propose that the ts-26 mutant has a primary temperature-sensitive defect in membrane glycoprotein synthesis and that this change causes pleiotropic effects on core morphogenesis.