Isolation of the mouse mammary tumor virus sequences not transmitted as germinal provirus in the C3H and RIII mouse strains

Downstream processing of cell culture-derived virus particles

Manufacturing of cell culture-derived virus particles for vaccination and gene therapy is a rapidly growing field in the biopharmaceutical industry. The process involves a number of complex tasks and unit operations ranging from selection of host cells and virus strains for the cultivation in bioreactors to the purification and formulation of the final product. For the majority of cell culture-derived products, efforts focused on maximization of bioreactor yields, whereas design and optimization of downstream processes were often neglected. Owing to this biased focus, downstream procedures today often constitute a bottleneck in various manufacturing processes and account for the majority of the overall production costs. For efficient production methods, particularly in sight of constantly increasing economic pressure within human healthcare systems, highly productive downstream schemes have to be developed. Here, we discuss unit operations and downstream trains to purify virus particles for use as vaccines and vectors for gene therapy.

Protoneoplasia: the molecular biology of murine mammary hyperplasia

The mouse mammary tumor virus has provided a window into the inner workings of the mammary epithelial cell at the earliest stages of neoplasia. Techniques of molecular biology permitted us to look through that window revealing a new biology which deserves consideration as a model for mammary tumorigenesis in all species. According to this model the neoplastic process originates in a single mammary epithelial cell as a result of a critical genetic alteration, such as integration of MuMTV (MuMHV) into a key site in the mouse genome (Fig. 4). The genetic alteration immortalizes the cell and provides it with selective growth advantages which result in a clonal proliferation. This original proliferation emerges as the protoneoplastic mammary hyperplasia. The protoneoplastic cells have limited growth potential and are not obligated to undergo malignant transformation but they represent a genetically evolving population highly susceptible to full blown malignancy after exposure to carcinogens. Protoneoplastic cells which undergo further genetic alterations that provide additional selective growth advantages proliferate and emerge as malignant tumors. The genetic alterations are sometimes reflected by changes in viral DNA but this is not essential and most mouse mammary tumors probably do not occur as the result of new host-virus interactions. No doubt the current work on the mouse "int" loci will help define the genes responsible for the induction and maintenance of the protoneoplastic state. Since such host genes have proven so ubiquitous, one must also predict that analogous genes will be found in human mammary protoneoplasias. Detection of such sequences may help distinguish protoneoplastic processes from nonneoplastic, low risk hyperplasias in the human breast. Finally, the gene or genes involved in the more lethal malignant transformation await elucidation. Based on past and current progress one can be sure that the mouse mammary tumor system will help point the way.

Chemical carcinogen-mouse mammary tumor virus interactions in cell transformation

We have studied the process of mammary cell transformation in vitro using a single cell clone (Clone 18) from a presumptive epithelial cell line, C57MG, derived from a normal mammary gland; a mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) host-range variant (RIII)vp4; and the potent initiating carcinogen 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA). After several serial subcultures, cells treated with virus and then with carcinogen exhibited an altered (transformed) morphology, a dramatic increase in anchorage independence, an increase in multinucleation after exposure to cytochalasin B, an enhanced ability to proliferate in low Ca2+ (0.01 mM) medium, and tumorigenicity when inoculated subcutaneously into athymic (nude) mice. Although some of these phenotypic alterations were observed also in cultures treated singly with MMTV or DMBA and in cultures exposed to DMBA before infection with MMTV, enhanced cytochalasin B multinucleation and tumorigenicity were properties observed only in mass cultures of cloned cells first infected with MMTV and then exposed to DMBA. This demonstrates for the first time that exposure of presumptive mammary epithelial cells to MMTV followed by DMBA, but not to either agent alone or to DMBA followed by MMTV, results in malignant transformation of these cells.

Isolation of a series of novel variants of murine mammary tumor viruses with broadened host ranges

We have previously isolated mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) host range variants by serial virus passage in feline cells. These variants productively infect cells of a broad range of species but replicate most efficiently in feline cells. We report here the isolation of a series of novel MMTV host range variants that have the ability to replicate with high efficiency in murine, rat, canine and human cells, respectively; these variants were isolated by serial virus passage in cells of each respective species. These new variants, furthermore, all retained their ability to efficiently replicate in feline cells, and each exhibited unique host range properties. The novel MMTV variants obtained from murine, rat, feline, canine, and human cells showed no overt evidence of recombination with endogenous type-C viruses in that they retained their antigenic reactivities in group-specific radioimmunoassays for MMTV polypeptides, and were unreactive for type-C virus proteins when tested by radioimmunoassays and DNA polymerase assays. These novel MMTV host range variants now broaden the spectrum of studies that can be undertaken involving MMTV replication and the initiation and promotion of virus-mediated mammary cell transformation.

Alterations of a mouse mammary tumor virus glycoprotein with interferon treatment

The effects of exogenous mouse interferon on the MJY-alpha mammary tumor cell line chronically infected with mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) were examined. Interferon at concentrations of 25 to 2,000 IU/ml in culture medium did not alter the growth rate or morphology of the cell layers. Electron microscopic examination of interferon-treated cells indicated a decrease in the numbers of A-type and budding B-type particles of MMTV. However, the levels of extracellular MMTV virions in the culture supernatants were not significantly reduced. Profiles of MMTV glycoproteins and nonglycosylated polypeptides obtained by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of virions purified from interferon-treated cultures revealed increases in the relative levels of the 60,000-dalton glycoprotein, gp60.

Organization of mouse mammary tumor virus-specific DNA endogenous to BALB/c mice

We used restriction endonucleases to prepare physical maps of the mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV)-specific DNA endogenous to the BALB/c mouse strain. The mapping was facilitated by the DNA transfer procedure, using complementary DNAs specific for the whole and for the 3' terminus of MMTV RNA to detect fragments containing viral sequences. The strategies used for the arrangement of fragments into physical maps included sequential digestions with two or three enzymes; preparative isolation of EcoRI fragments containing viral sequences; and comparisons of virus-specific fragments derived from the DNA of several mouse strains. Most of the MMTV-related DNA in the BALB/c genome is organized into two units (II and III) which strongly resemble proviruses acquired upon horizontal infection with milk-borne strains of MMTV and other retroviruses. These units contain approximately 6.0 x 10(6) Mr of apparently uninterrupted viral sequences, they bear redundant sequences totaling at least 700 to 800 base pairs at their termini, and the terminal redundancies include sequences derived from the 3' end of MMTV RNA. Units II and III are closely related in that they share 12 of 14 recognition sites for endonucleases, but cellular sequences flanking units II and III are dissimilar by this criterion. The remainder of the MMTV-related DNA endogenous to BALB/c mice is found in a single subgenomic unit (unit I) with a complexity of ca. 2 x 10(6) Mr; the structure of this unit has not been further defined. These results support the hypotheses that endogenous proviruses have been acquired by infection of germinal tissues with MMTV. The physical maps are also useful for identifying the MMTV genomes endogenous to BALB/c mice in studies of the natural history of mammary tumorigenesis.

Isolation and characterization of germ line DNA from mouse sperm

Mouse germ line DNA was isolated from sperm by a physicochemical procedure that preferentially destroys contaminating somatic cell DNA. The use of reducing conditions and chelating agents in combination with phenol permitted extraction of molecular weight DNA from mature sperm nuclei with approximately 80% efficiency. Less than 0.1% somatic cell DNA contamination remained in sperm DNA prepared by this method. Germ line DNA was characterized by determination of its ultraviolet absorbance spectrum, buoyant density in cesium chloride, and melting profile on a hydroxyapatite column. Contamination by mitochondrial DNA was assessed by cesium chloride/ethidium bromide gradient centrifugation. The significance of the mouse germ line DNA isolation procedure is discussed with respect to the possible genetic transmission of mammary tumor virus and leukemia virus, the origin of antibody diversity, and the origin of testicular teratomas.

Diversity of mammary tumor viral genes within the genus Mus, the species Mus musculus, and the strain C3H

Proviral sequences complementary to the C3H mouse mammary tumor virus RNA genome are present in the DNA of early occurring mammary tumors of C3H/HeN mice and are absent from apparently normal C3H/HeN tissues; these sequences are non-germ line transmitted in C3H/HeN mice and have been termed tumor-associated sequences; (W. Drohan et al., J. Virol. 21:986-995, 1977). We report here that tumor-associated sequences are present in the DNA of spontaneous mammary tumors that occur early in the life of several inbred, high-tumor-incidence mouse strains but are absent in mammary tumors that occur later in life in low- and moderate-tumor-incidence strains. These sequences are also absent in apparently normal organs tested from numerous laboratory mouse strains, feral mice, Mus musculus subspecies, and other Mus species. Sequences represented in tumor-associated sequence RNA, however, are present as endogenous provirus in GR mice (at approximately four copies per haploid genome) and in two of five substrains of C3H mice tested (at approximately one copy per haploid genome). The two substrains of C3H mice positive for endogenous tumor-associated sequence provirus were recently (circa 1930) separated from the negative substrains of C3H mice. The results may be explained by the unlikely chance segregation of proviral sequences or by the recent integration of viral genes (within the last few decades). Whereas radioactively labeled mouse mammary tumor virus 60-70S RNA or complementary DNA detected mouse mammary tumor virus-related proviral information in all laboratory mouse strains, feral mice, subspecies of M. musculus, and other species of Mus, the use of tumor-associated sequence RNA clearly revealed the genetic diversity that may exist between different colonies or substrains of "inbred" laboratory mice commonly used in cancer research.

Idiopathic mammary tumors in BALB/c mice

A colony of BALB/c mice consisting of two sublines with a high incidence of mammary tumors was examined for the presence of a mammary tumor virus (MuMTV). The mammary tumor incidences in the two sublines were 18% and 35% at average tumor age 19-20 months. Over a period of 8 years, their milk at third to tenth lactations were monitored for the presence of MuMTV antigen,and the milk and tumors were examined for the presence of B particles. Neither antigen nor B particles were found. Milk and tumor extracts from the higher mammary tumor lines were also assayed for MuMTV bioactivity by intraperitoneal inoculation of weanling C57BL, BALB/c, and RIIIf females. No response was obtained, except possible in RIIIf. Both the MuMTV antigen incidence and the tumor incidence in inoculated RIIIf mice were somewhat elevated over controls. The question remains unanswered as to whether there is an active MuMTV in our colony of tumor-bearing BALB/c mice and, if there is, whether it is associated with B particles.

Murine mammary tumor virus expression during mammary tumorigenesis in BALB/c mice

Steady-state levels of murine mammary tumor virus (MuMTV) RNA were quantitated during mammary tumorigenesis in BALB/c mice by molecular hybridization with a representative MuMTV complementary DNA (cDNA) probe. Hyperplastic alveolar nodule (HAN) lines are preneoplastic mammary lesions that were induced in BALB/c mice by hormones alone or in combination with 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene and give rise to mammary tumors. The hormone-induced HAN lines D1 and D2 contained detectable amounts of hybridizable MuMTV sequences. MuMTV RNA sequences were also observed in five of the six transplanted BALB/c mammary tumors that were examined. Similar levels of hybridizable MuMTV RNA were observed between the D1 or D2 HAN line and mammary tumors derived from each HAN line. The D2 HAN line as well as D2, C4, and CD8 mammary tumors accumulated RNA that was apparently homologous to most of the MuMTV genome. Thermal denaturation of hybrids indicated extensive sequence homology between the MuMTV cDNA and hybridizable RNA in the BALB/c HAN lines and mammary tumors. A low level of type C viral RNA was observed in the BALB/c HAN lines and most mammary tumors by molecular hybridization with a cDNA to Moloney murine leukemia virus. These data demonstrate that MuMTV sequences are frequently expressed in hormone-induced BALB/c HAN lines and mammary tumors derived from HAN lines or ductal hyperplasias induced in BALB/c mice by hormones and/or a chemical carcinogen. The transition from the preneoplastic to the neoplastic state in BALB/c mice does not appear to be due to a change in the steady-state levels of MuMTV RNA since the hormone-induced HAN lines and mammary tumors had similar levels of hybridizable MuMTV RNA.

Integration of the DNA of mouse mammary tumor virus in virus-infected normal and neoplastic tissue of the mouse

We have used restriction endonucleases which cleave the DNA of mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) at one site (Eco RI) and several sites (Pst I, Sac I and Bam HI) to study infection and mammary tumorigenesis in mice. Proviruses acquired during infection of BALB/c mice foster-nursed by virus-producing C3H females can be distinguished from the MMTV proviruses endogenous to uninfected BALB/c mice by the nature of the fragments generated with Pst I and Bam HI. Using this assay, we show that lactating mammary glands as well as mammary tumors from BALB/cfC3H mice have acquired MMTV DNA, and that a minimum of approximately 10% of normal glandular cells can be infected. The new proviruses appear to be linked to cellular DNA of mammary tumors and infected lactating mammary glands within a limited region (0.2 x 10(6) daltons) of the viral DNA; the location of this region, based upon mapping studies with unintegrated MMTV DNA, suggests that the orientation of these proviruses is colinear with linear DNA synthesized in infected cells and thus approximately colinear with the viral RNA. Comparisons of many mammary tumors and studies of lactating mammary glands with a high proportion of independently infected cells indicate that a large number of sites in the cellular genome can accommodate a new provirus; the acquired proviruses are rarely, if ever, found in tandem with each other or with endogenous proviruses. We cannot, however, distinguish between random integration and integration into a large number of preferred sites in the host genome. Since Eco RI and Bam HI cleavage of DNA from each mammary tumor generates a unique set of viral-specific fragments, we propose that the tumors are composed principally of cells derived from a subset of the many infected cells in a mammary gland; this proposal is supported by our finding that Eco RI digestion of DNA from several transplants of a primary tumor yields the pattern characteristic of the primary tumor.

The use of standard and relaxed hybridization conditions to detect two classes of sequences related to type-D retroviruses in the DNAs of primates

Using standard hybridization conditions (68 degrees C and 0.4 M sodium phosphate) and assaying for RNAase-resistant RNA . DNA duplexes in the presence of 2 X SSC (1 X SSC is 0.15 M NaCl and 0.015 M sodium citrate), sequences representing approx. 20% of the Mason-Pfizer virus (MPV) genome have previously been shown to be endogenous in DNAs of all Old World monkeys examined (Drohan, W., Colcher, D., Schochetman, G. and Schlom, J. (1977) J. Virol. 23, 36--43). We now report that titration of both the temperature at which hybridizations are carried out and the Na+ concentration at which 125I-labeled MPV RNA . DNA hybrids are scored, reveals a second class of sequences related to the MPV genome in the DNAs of primates. These MPV-related sequences, which are similar to an additional 40% of the MPV genome, are detected when the temperature of hybridization is reduced to 54 degrees C and when the resulting 125I-labeled RNA . DNA duplexes are scored for RNAase resistance in 8 X SSC. These sequences are found in the DNAs of all Old World monkeys examined, and the Tm values of the hybrid duplexes are approx. 6--7 degrees C lower than those of the hybrid duplexes formed using standard conditions. These studies further demonstrate the wide distribution of type-D retrovirus sequences in primates.

Reverse transcription of turnip yellow mosaic virus RNA primed with calf-thymus DNA hydrolysate: characterization of the purified cDNA product

Complementary DNA was transcribed from turnip yellow mosaic virus RNA, using the method of Taylor et al. (1). The purified cDNA thus obtained sedimented between 2 and 4 S and was a mostly uniform transcript of template RNA. It hybridized with a sharp transition to homologous TYMV-RNA (Crt 1/2 = 2.7 x 10(-2)), but showed a low level of hybridization (less than 5%) to the RNAs of two other tymoviruses, namely Andean potato latent virus and eggplant mosaic virus.

Isolation of host-range variants of mouse mammary tumor viruses that efficiently infect cells in vitro

Host-range variants of mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) have been isolated that have the ability to productively infect cells in vitro with high efficiency (at multiplicities of infection </=1) and with extremely short latent periods to the production of de novo virus (as short as 4 days after infection). These variants of the highly oncogenic MMTV of RIII, C3H, and GR mice were obtained by serial virus passage in feline cells. The resultant variant stocks react in group-specific radioimmunoassays for the MMTV major external glycoprotein (gp52) and major internal protein (p28), possess a protein profile similar to that of wild-type MMTV, and contain a virion-associated DNA polymerase with a magnesium cation preference. Addition of dexamethasone and insulin to culture media enhances the titer of de novo MMTV to levels of approximately 10(10) particles per 75-cm(2) flask (containing 5 x 10(6) cells) per 24 hr. Variant stocks exhibit no evidence of contamination with either murine or feline type C retroviruses, as assayed by various techniques. The variants of MMTV derived from C3H and RIII mice exhibit differential host ranges that include the ability to productively infect feline, canine, bat, mink, murine, and human cells. Use of these MMTV host-range variants now facilitates the study of the complete replicative cycle of MMTV as well as an elucidation of the interaction of MMTV with various hormones, physical or chemical carcinogens, and tumor promoters in the initiation and promotion of mammary neoplasia.

Involvement of mouse mammary tumor virus in spontaneous and hormone-induced mammary tumors in low-mammary-tumor mouse strains

The involvement of the mouse mammary tumor virus (MTV) in spontaneous and hormone-induced mammary tumors in low-mammary-tumor mouse strains was studied by comparing the amounts of MTV RNA and MTV DNA sequences in mammary tumors and other tissues of mice with an without hormonal treatments. The following results were obtained. (i) Mammary tumors which appeared in C3H mice as a result of an infection with MTV contained more MTV DNA compared with noninfected organs; these mammary tumors also contained more MTV RNA than was present in lactating mammary gland cells. (ii) Hormonal stimulation by administration of excessive amounts of prolactin via hypophyseal isografts in C3Hf and O20 mice resulted in an increased expression of MTV RNA in the mammary glands. This elevated level of MTV RNA expression was, however, not maintained in the hormone-induced mammary tumors. (iii) Spontaneous mammary tumors in BALB/c mice contained similar levels of MTV DNA and MTV RNA sequences as were found in other cells of these animals.

Strain-specific markers for the major structural proteins of highly oncogenic murine mammary tumor viruses by tryptic peptide analyses

Tryptic peptide analyses were performed on the major structural 52,000- and 36,000-dalton glycoproteins (gp52 and gp36-38) and the nonglycosylated 28,000-, 14,000-, and 10,000-dalton proteins (p28, p14, and p10) of the highly oncogenic murine mammary tumor viruses (MMTVs) of C3H, RIII, and GR mice, i.e., MMTV(C3H), MMTV(RIII), and MMTV(GR), respectively. Each virus was grown in both murine and feline cells to ensure the virus-coded nature of each peptide analyzed. The gp36-38 peptide maps of all three MMTVs were indistinguishable, as were the p14 maps of the different MMTVs. Both the p28 and the gp52 of MMTV(C3H), however, could be clearly distinguished from the corresponding proteins of MMTV(RIII) and MMTV(GR), regardless of whether the viruses were grown in feline or murine cells. The p1o of MMTV(RIII) was clearly different from that of MMTV(C3H) and MMTV(GR). Therefore, tryptic peptide analysis of three proteins, gp52, p28, and p10, can serve to distinguish these three viruses from one another. These studies further characterize the heterogeneity in polypeptides among MMTVs.

Immunological and structural relationships between langur virus and other primate type-D retroviruses

Four patients with spinal epidural sepsis were evaluated with MR imaging. The lesions were best visualized with spin-echo techniques with long repetition (2000 msec) and long echo (80–100 msec) times. Sagittal and axial images were equally important in defining the extent of the lesions. Comparison with available contrast-enhanced CT scans showed that MR was more definitive in the early demonstration of the abscesses. This early recognition influenced the management greatly and improved the clinical outcome significantly.

The findings in our four cases support previous reports that MR is superior to other imaging methods for early recognition and anatomic localization of infectious diseases in patients suspected of having either spinal osteomyelitis or spinal epidural sepsis.

A portion of the feline leukaemia virus genome is not endogenous in cat cells

Although viral sequences closely related to feline leukaemia virus are represented in multiple copies in cellular DNA of all domestic cats, a specific fraction was present only in the virus-infected cells. This fraction was detected by viral cDNA enriched by a prior absorption of a total complementary DNA (cDNA) transcript with normal cat liver DNA. The recycled cDNA hybridized well with the cellular DNA of virus-infected cells, but to a lesser extent with DNA from uninfected cat cells. The probe was used to differentiate virus-positive from virus-negative tumour tissues of cats. The same approach with cDNA of another endogenous feline virus, RD114, failed to show any difference between a virus-infected cell line and normal cells, including both virus-inducible and non-inducible lines.

Identification of the Mtv-2 gene responsible for the early appearance of mammary tumors in the GR mouse by nucleic acid hybridization

In the mouse strain GR, the Mtv-2 gene controls the expression of large amounts of mammary tumor virus (MTV) antigens in the milk at first lactation. It also controls the early appearance of mammary tumors. We have investigated the number of MTV proviral sequences associated with this Mtv-2 gene by nucleic acid hybridization between MTV [(3)H]cDNA and DNA from GR, B10, and GR-Mtv-2(-) mice. B10 and GR-Mtv-2(-) mice lack Mtv-2 gene expression. The molecular hybridizations revealed that the DNA of GR mice contains 12 copies of MTV proviral sequences, whereas only 4 copies are present in the DNA of B10 and GR-Mtv-2(-) mice. We therefore conclude that the Mtv-2 gene in the GR mouse strain is associated with eight additional MTV proviral sequences. The four Mtv proviral sequences in the GR-Mtv-2(-) DNA might represent another Mtv gene in the GR mouse. Different amounts of MTV RNA are detected in mammary glands at first lactation of B10 and GR-Mtv-2(-) mice, even though both contain four copies of MTV proviral sequences. This indicates a difference between these two mouse strains either in the regulation of expression of these MTV proviral sequences or in the location of these sequences in the murine genome.

Type-specific antigenic determinants on the major external glycoprotein of high- and low-oncogenic murine mammary tumor viruses

We recently showed that the 52,000-dalton external glycoprotein (gp52) of the highly oncogenic mouse mammary tumor viruses (MMTVs) of RIII, GR, and C3H mice contains both type- and group-specific antigenic determinants. This was demonstrated by using a competition radioimmunoassay with 125I-externally labeled virions and antisera to the gp52 of MMTV from RIII mice (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 74:3564-3568, 1977). We report here that we were able to distinguish between the gp52's of the high-oncogenic MMTV of C3H mice [MMTV(C3H)] and the low-oncogenic MMTV of that same mouse strain [MMTV(C3Hf)]. This was accomplished by use of a competition radioimmunoassay with 125I-externally labeled virions of MMTV(C3H) and antisera prepared against MMTV(C3H). A comparison of the intact virion and purified gp52 radioimmunoassays showed that MMTV type-specific differences were enhanced with the intact virion radioimmunoassay. These differences were further magnified with appropriately absorbed antisera. These findings thus allow an immunological distinction between the surface glycoproteins of a low-oncogenic endogenous and a high-oncogenic exogenous MMTV of the same mouse strain.

Mammary tumors and mammary tumor virus expression in hybrid mice of strains C57BL and GR

Mammary tumorigenesis in genetic crosses between the high mammary tumor incidence GR and the low incidence C57BL mouse strains is highly correlated with murine mammary tumor virus expression in milk. Although the F1 and first backcross females had a mammary tumor incidence which was consistent with a single dominant gene segregation, the tumor incidence in the critical second backcross segregants disproved the single gene hypothesis. Genetic factors were clearly involved in regulation of virus expression which in turn correlated with both tumor incidence and tumor latency; these complex phenotypes are however best explained as threshold or quasicontinuous characters. As predicted from this model, the age specific incidence of mammary tumors showed a broad peak at 14-19 mo of age with no evidence of an early or late phase. Hematopoietic tumors showed no correlation with virus expression or mammary tumorigenesis suggesting different etiologies for these tumors.

Squirrel monkey retrovirus: an endogenous virus of a new world primate

Squirrel monkey retrovirus (SMRV) was isolated by cocultivation of squirrel monkey lung cells with canine cells. 3H-labeled 60-70S SMRV RNA, isolated from virus grown in canine cells, hybridized to the same extent and to the same Cot1/2 value to the DNA of all tissues of all squirrel monkeys tested; Cot1/2 values show that SMRV proviral sequences are present in the low repetitive range. No SMRV proviral sequences were detected in tissues from a variety of other New World monkeys, Old World monkeys, or apes. Murine, feline, bovine, and canine cells also contain no detectable SMRV proviral sequences. Competitive molecular hybridization studies revealed no detectable sequence homology between the 60-70S RNAs of SMRV and Mason-Pfizer virus (MPV). The virion-associated DNA polymerase of SMRV is similar to that of MPV in that it has a molecular weight of approximately 80,000 and prefers magnesium as a divalent cation using oligo(dG)-poly(rC) as primer-template. The virion-associated DNA polymerase of SMRV can be clearly distinguished from those of MPV and the mouse mammary tumor viruses, however, by its preference for manganese as a divalent cation in the presence of high salt.

Multiple antigenic determinants on the major surface glycoprotein of murine mammary tumor viruses

The major external protein of murine mammary tumor viruses (MMTVs) is a glycoprotein of molecular weight 52,000 (gp52). We report here that the gp52s of MMTVs from different mouse strains contain both type-specific and group-specific antigenic determinants. Competitive radioimmunoassays with externally labeled virion preparations were used to demonstrate that MMTV virions from C3H, RIII, and GR mice competed identically in "group-specific" assays but either competed with altered slopes or competed incompletely in the appropriate "type-specific" assays. Similar results were obtained with purified gp52 preparations as competitors. MMTVs of RIII, C3H, and GR mice, grown in feline cells, competed similarly to the corresponding murine-derived MMTVs, thus demonstrating that the observed type-specific and group-specific antigenic reactivities are viral coded. In competitive radioimmunoassays using an antiserum against MMTV of C3H mice that was preabsorbed with MMTV of GR mice, type-specific reactivities were further magnified; MMTV of C3H mice competed completely whereas no competition was observed with MMTV of GR mice as a competitor. These studies are in agreement with previous biological and molecular hybridization studies on the diversity of MMTVs from different mouse strains.

Distribution of Mason-Pfizer virus-specific sequences in the DNA of primates

Iodinated Mason-Pfizer virus (MPV) 60-70S RNA has been used in molecular hybridization experiments to determine the distribution of MPV-specific proviral sequences in the DNAs of primates. Approximately 20% of the MPV genome is present as endogenous provirus in rhesus monkeys. Competitive hybridization experiments showed no homology between MPV 60-70S RNA and the 60-70S RNAs of M7, RD-114, and the simian sarcoma virus. No MPV-specific proviral sequences were detected in the DNAs of apparently normal tissues of various species of New World monkeys, apes, and humans. The part of the MPV genome that is endogenous to rhesus is also endogenous to the other species of Old World monkeys examined: baboon, African green, and patas. This was determined as a result of the following observations: (i) C(0)t(1/2) values and final extent of hybridization were the same for all four species. (ii) T(m) values of MPV 60-70S RNA and DNA of all four species were identical. (iii) The removal of MPV sequences endogenous to rhesus tissues by recycling against rhesus DNA resulted in the loss of any hybridizable MPV RNA to the DNAs of baboon, African green, and patas tissues. (iv) Mixing experiments of rhesus, African green, and baboon DNAs resulted in the same kinetics of hybridization as did rhesus DNA alone, when hybridized with MPV 60-70S RNA. These findings demonstrate that sequences that constitute an integral part of the MPV genome are conserved in the DNAs of several different species of Old World monkeys.

Differences in mouse mammary tumor viruses. Relationship to early and late occurring mammary tumors

The murine model has been used extensively to study the various factors involved in the etiology of mammary carcinoma. Inbred mouse strains have been classically categorized into (i) high incidence stains with tumors occurring relatively early in the life of the animal, or (ii) low or moderate incidence strains with tumors occurring later on in life. We have radioactively labeled the RNA genome of the mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) from each of several mouse strains. We report here, using the technique of molecular hybridization, that the class of MMTVs responsible for the early occurring mammary tumors in high incidence strains can be clearly distinguished from the MMTVs associated with late occurring mammary tumors in low or moderate incidence strains; we also demonstrate that minor differences in MMTV genomes can also exist within these classes. Our findings show that MMTVs are transmitted via the germ line (as a germinal provirus) in some mouse strains, whereas in other strains, a non-germ line transmission is clearly demonstrated. Biochemical techniques can thus be used to track the mode of transmission of oncogenic viruses. The relationship of these findings to an understanding of the etiology of mammary carcinoma is discussed.