Mapping host range-specific oligonucleotides within genomes of the ecotropic and mink cell focus-inducing strains of Moloney murine leukemia virus

A small region of the ecotropic murine leukemia virus (MuLV) gag gene profoundly influences the types of polytropic MuLVs generated in mice

The vast majority of recombinant polytropic murine leukemia viruses (MuLVs) generated in mice after infection by ecotropic MuLVs can be classified into two major antigenic groups based on their reactivities to two monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) termed Hy 7 and 516. These groups very likely correspond to viruses formed by recombination of the ecotropic MuLV with two distinct sets of polytropic env genes present in the genomes of inbred mouse strains. We have found that nearly all polytropic MuLVs identified in mice infected with a substrain of Friend MuLV (F-MuLV57) are reactive with Hy 7, whereas mice infected with Moloney MuLV (Mo-MuLV) generate major populations of both Hy 7- and 516-reactive polytropic MuLVs. We examined polytropic MuLVs generated in NFS/N mice after inoculation with Mo-MuLV-F-MuLV57 chimeras to determine which regions of the viral genome influence this difference between the two ecotropic MuLVs. These studies identified a region of the MuLV genome which encodes the nucleocapsid protein and a portion of the viral protease as the only region that influenced the difference in polytropic-MuLV generation by Mo-MuLV and F-MuLV57.

A multistep process of leukemogenesis in Moloney murine leukemia virus-infected mice that is modulated by retroviral pseudotyping and interference

Mixed retroviral infections frequently exhibit pseudotyping, in which the genome of one virus is packaged in a virion containing SU proteins encoded by another virus. Infection of mice by Moloney murine leukemia virus (M-MuLV), which induces lymphocytic leukemia, results in a mixed viral infection composed of the inoculated ecotropic M-MuLV and polytropic MuLVs generated by recombination of M-MuLV with endogenous retroviral sequences. In this report, we describe pseudotyping which occurred among the polytropic and ecotropic MuLVs in M-MuLV-infected mice. Infectious center assays of polytropic MuLVs released from splenocytes or thymocytes of infected mice revealed that polytropic MuLVs were extensively pseudotyped within ecotropic virions. Late in the preleukemic stage, a dramatic change in the extent of pseudotyping occurred in thymuses. Starting at about 5 weeks, there was an abrupt increase in the number of thymocytes that released nonpseudotyped polytropic viruses. A parallel increase in thymocytes that released ecotropic M-MuLV packaged within polytropic virions was also observed. Analyses of the clonality of preleukemic thymuses and thymomas suggested that the change in pseudotyping characteristics was not the result of the emergence of tumor cells. Examination of mice infected with M-MuLV, Friend erythroleukemia virus, and a Friend erythroleukemia virus-M-MuLV chimeric virus suggested that the appearance of polytropic virions late in the preleukemic stage correlated with the induction of lymphocytic leukemia. We discuss different ways in which pseudotypic mixing may facilitate leukemogenesis, including a model in which the kinetics of thymic infection, modulated by pseudotyping and viral interference, facilitates a stepwise mechanism of leukemogenesis.

Characterization of epitopes defining two major subclasses of polytropic murine leukemia viruses (MuLVs) which are differentially expressed in mice infected with different ecotropic MuLVs

Polytropic murine leukemia viruses (MuLVs) arise in mice by recombination of ecotropic MuLVs with endogenous retroviral envelope genes and have been implicated in the induction of hematopoietic proliferative diseases. Inbred mouse strains contain many endogenous sequences which are homologous to the polytropic env genes; however, the extent to which particular sequences participate in the generation of the recombinants is unknown. Previous studies have established antigenic heterogeneity among the env genes of polytropic MuLVs, which may reflect recombination with distinct endogenous genes. In the present study, we have examined many polytropic MuLVs and found that nearly all isolates fall into two mutually exclusive antigenic subclasses on the basis of the ability of their SU proteins to react with one of two monoclonal antibodies, termed Hy 7 and MAb 516. Epitope-mapping studies revealed that reactivity to the two antibodies is dependent on the identity of a single amino acid residue encoded in a variable region of the receptor-binding domain of the env gene. This indicated that the two antigenic subclasses of MuLVs arose by recombination with distinct sets of endogenous genes. Evaluation of polytropic MuLVs in mice revealed distinctly different ratios of the two subclasses after inoculation of different ecotropic MuLVs, suggesting that individual ecotropic MuLVs preferentially recombine with distinct sets of endogenous polytropic env genes.

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.

Leukemia induction by a new strain of Friend mink cell focus-inducing virus: synergistic effect of Friend ecotropic murine leukemia virus

A new strain of Friend recombinant mink cell focus-inducing retrovirus, FMCF -1-E, was found to induce leukemias in NFS and IRW mice. Although the isolate was obtained from a stock of FMCF -1 ( Troxler et al., J. Exp. Med. 148:639-653, 1978), FMCF -1-E was distinguishable from FMCF -1 by oligonucleotide fingerprinting and antigenic analysis, using monoclonal antibodies. These analyses suggested that FMCF -1-E is a distinct FMCF isolate rather than a simple variant of FMCF -1. After neonatal inoculation, the latency for leukemia induction was 3 to 8 months. A similar long latency was also seen when Friend murine leukemia virus 57 was inoculated into adult (6-week-old) IRW mice. However, sequential inoculation of FMCF -1-E at birth followed by Friend murine leukemia 57 at 6 weeks of age led to a shortened latency period (2.5 to 4 months). Only neonatal inoculation of Friend murine leukemia virus 57 was able to induce a more rapid appearance of leukemia. The leukemia cell type in the majority of cases, regardless of virus inoculation protocol, was erythroid, but occasional myeloid, lymphoid, and mixed leukemias were also observed. In contrast to NFS and IRW mice, BALB/c mice were resistant to leukemia induction by FMCF -1-E and also showed some transient resistance to leukemia induction by Friend murine leukemia virus 57.

Nucleotide sequence analysis establishes the role of endogenous murine leukemia virus DNA segments in formation of recombinant mink cell focus-forming murine leukemia viruses

The sequence of 363 nucleotides near the 3' end of the pol gene and 564 nucleotides from the 5' terminus of the env gene in an endogenous murine leukemia viral (MuLV) DNA segment, cloned from AKR/J mouse DNA and designated as A-12, was obtained. For comparison, the nucleotide sequence in an analogous portion of AKR mink cell focus-forming (MCF) 247 MuLV provirus was also determined. Sequence features unique to MCF247 MuLV DNA in the 3' pol and 5' env regions were identified by comparison with nucleotide sequences in analogous regions of NFS -Th-1 xenotropic and AKR ecotropic MuLV proviruses. These included (i) an insertion of 12 base pairs encoding four amino acids located 60 base pairs from the 3' terminus of the pol gene and immediately preceding the env gene, (ii) the deletion of 12 base pairs (encoding four amino acids) and the insertion of 3 base pairs (encoding one amino acid) in the 5' portion of the env gene, and (iii) single base substitutions resulting in 2 MCF247 -specific amino acids in the 3' pol and 23 in the 5' env regions. Nucleotide sequence comparison involving the 3' pol and 5' env regions of AKR MCF247 , NFS xenotropic, and AKR ecotropic MuLV proviruses with the cloned endogenous MuLV DNA indicated that MCF247 proviral DNA sequences were conserved in the cloned endogenous MuLV proviral segment. In fact, total nucleotide sequence identity existed between the endogenous MuLV DNA and the MCF247 MuLV provirus in the 3' portion of the pol gene. In the 5' env region, only 4 of 564 nucleotides were different, resulting in three amino acid changes between AKR MCF247 MuLV DNA and the endogenous MuLV DNA present in clone A-12. In addition, nucleotide sequence comparison indicated that Moloney-and Friend-MCF MuLVs were also highly related in the 3' pol and 5' env regions to the cloned endogenous MuLV DNA. These results establish the role of endogenous MuLV DNA segments in generation of recombinant MCF viruses.

Generation of mink cell focus-forming viruses by Friend murine leukemia virus: recombination with specific endogenous proviral sequences

A family of recombinant mink cell focus-forming viruses (MCF) was derived by inoculation of NFS mice with a Friend murine leukemia virus, and their genomes were analyzed by RNase T1-resistant oligonucleotide fingerprinting. The viruses were obtained from the thymuses and spleens of preleukemic and leukemic animals and were evaluated for dualtropism and oncogenicity. All these isolates induced cytopathic foci on mink cells but could be classified into two groups based on their relative infectivities for SC-1 (mouse) or mink (ATCC CCL64) cells. One group of Friend MCFs (F-MCFs) (group I) exhibited approximately equal infectivities for SC-1 and mink cells, whereas a second group (group II) infected mink cells 1,000- to 10,000-fold more efficiently than SC-1 cells. Structural analyses of the F-MCFs revealed that group I and group II viruses correlated with recombination of Friend murine leukemia virus with two distinct, but closely related, endogenous NFS proviral sequences. No correlation was found between the type of F-MCF and the tissue of origin or the disease state of the animal. Furthermore, none of the F-MCF isolates were found to be oncogenic in NFS/N or AKR/J mice. F-MCFs of both groups underwent extensive substitution of ecotropic sequences, involving much of the gag and env genes of group I F-MCFs and most of the gag, pol, and env genes of group II F-MCFs. All F-MCF isolates retained the 3' terminal U3 region of Friend murine leukemia virus. Comparison of the RNAs of the F-MCFs with RNAs of MCFs derived from NFS.Akv-1 or NFS.Akv-2 mice indicated that the F-MCFs were derived from NFS proviral sequences which are distinct from the sequences contained in NFS.Akv MCF isolates. This result suggested that recombination with particular endogenous proviral sequences to generate MCFs may be highly specific for a given murine leukemia virus.

Phenotypic heterogeneity of leukemias associated with Friend MuLV infection: studies on T-cell lymphomas and null cell leukemias in euthymic and thymus-deficient mice

The development of leukemia/lymphoma in euthymic and congenitally thymus-deficient (nude) mice infected with Friend murine leukemia virus (Friend MuLV) was investigated; both groups developed fatal leukemias within 2-4 months post-infection but the gross and micropathology of lymphoid organs, coupled with cell-surface marker studies indicated the development of two distinct forms of disease. In euthymic mice one group developed lymphosarcomas manifested by thymoma, hepatosplenomegaly and lymphadenopathy whereas the second group developed splenic leukemias manifested only by hepatosplenomegaly. Analysis of surface markers on spleen cells from mice experiencing lymphosarcomas indicated that the majority of cells were positive for Thy 1.2, Moloney cell surface antigen (MCSA), and viral-coded gp70 and p30 antigens but negative for surface immunoglobulin (sIg). Euthymic mice experiencing splenic leukemias yielded spleen cells negative for Thy 1.2, sIg, and MCSA but positive for gp70 and p30. Nude mice uniformly developed splenic leukemias, spleen cells from which were Thy 1.2, MCSA, gp70 and p30 negative, although the proportion of sIg positive cells was higher than that observed in euthymic mice experiencing splenic leukemias. No correlation between the development of lymphosarcoma vs splenic leukemia and a pattern of ecotropic and/or xenotropic MuLV expression was observed. While ecotropic MuLV expression was equivalent in both euthymic and athymic mice, euthymic mice expressed approx. 10-fold higher levels of xenotropic MuLV than nude mice, however. Collectively the data suggest that infection of mice with Friend MuLV results in the development of two possible forms of disease, lymphosarcoma involving T cells vs splenic leukemia involving B and/or null cells.

The high leukemogenic potential of Gross passage A murine leukemia virus maps in the region of the genome corresponding to the long terminal repeat and to the 3' end of env

The Gross passage A murine leukemia virus (MuLV) is a highly leukemogenic, ecotropic fibrotropic retrovirus. Its genome is similar to that of other nonleukemogenic ecotropic fibrotropic MuLVs but differs at the 3' end and in the long terminal repeat. To determine whether these modifications were related to its leukemogenic potential, we constructed a viral DNA recombinant in vitro with cloned infectious DNA from this highly leukemogenic Gross passage A MuLV and from a weakly leukemogenic endogenous BALB/c B-tropic MuLV. Infectious viruses, recovered after microinjection of murine cells with recombinant DNA, were injected into newborn mice. We show here that the Gross passage A 1.35-kilobase-pair KpnI fragment (harboring part of gp70, all of p15E, and the long terminal repeat) is sufficient to confer a high leukemogenic potential to this recombinant.

Characterization of monoclonal antibodies reactive with murine leukemia viruses: use in analysis of strains of friend MCF and Friend ecotropic murine leukemia virus

Sixteen mouse and rat monoclonal antibodies reactive with gag or env proteins of Friend murine leukemia virus (F-MuLV) or recombinant MCF viruses related to F-MuLV were derived. Specificity of these was determined by immunofluorescence, immunoprecipitation, and reactivity with viral proteins blotted onto nitrocellulose paper. Seven antibodies reacted with envelope protein antigens of certain nonecotropic viruses only. Nine antibodies reacted with both ecotropic and nonecotropic viruses. Of this latter group, three were antienvelope, four were anti-p15, one was anti-p12, and one was anti-p30 in specificity. When tested as a panel against 10 strains of F-MuLV, these antibodies could distinguish seven different antigenic patterns. However, all 10 strains retained reactivity for three anti-gp70 antibodies uniquely specific for Friend and Rauscher MuLVs. Our antibody panel could also identify MCF viruses isolated from mice neonatally inoculated with F-MuLV as recombinants related to a particular F-MuLV strain based on identity of p15 gag antigenic profiles. However, recombinant viruses lacked several envelope antigens always associated with F-MuLV and instead had new envelope reactivities. These anti-MCF monoclonal antibodies detected no shared envelope antigens between MCF and xenotropic viruses isolated from mice inoculated with F-MuLV, however many of them did react with MCF viruses derived from AKR mice and NFS mice congenic for endogenous ecotropic virus loci.

Temperature-sensitive mutants of influenza A/Udorn/72 (H3N2) virus. III. Genetic analysis of temperature-dependent host range mutants

One hundred thirty-three ts mutants of influenza A/Udorn/72 virus were arranged into eight complementation groups, A-H, on Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) monolayer cultures at the restrictive temperature of 40 degrees. The eight complementation groups, A-H, on MDCK cells corresponded to the eight recombination groups, A-H, on rhesus monkey kidney (RMK) cells, respectively, and this suggested that each MDCK complementation group represented one of the eight influenza A RNA gene segments. These ts viruses were used to identify the locus of the ts mutation in temperature-dependent host range (td-hr) mutants of the A/Udorn/72 virus. Sixteen of the 133 ts mutants exhibited distinct host (MDCK)-dependent restriction of plaque formation at 40 degrees but not at 34 degrees and were referred to as td-hr mutants. These 16 td-hr mutants were ts+ (not ts) on RMK cells but ts on MDCK cells. The td-hr mutants did not share a common lesion and the ts lesions were distributed among the eight complementation groups, A-H, when tested on MDCK cells. An analysis of one of the td-hr mutants indicated that an extrageneic RMK-dependent suppressor mutation did not account for the td-hr phenotype. These data suggested that a host-dependent ts mutation was responsible for the td-hr restriction of this mutant. Representation of td-hr mutations in each of the eight complementation groups indicates that the influenza A virus genome can undergo mutation leading to an altered host range in any of its eight RNA segments.

Cloning of endogenous murine leukemia virus-related sequences from chromosomal DNA of BALB/c and AKR/J mice: identification of an env progenitor of AKR-247 mink cell focus-forming proviral DNA

Recombinant phages containing murine leukemia virus (MuLV)-reactive DNA sequences were isolated after screening of a BALB/c mouse embryo DNA library and from shotgun cloning of EcoRI-restricted AKR/J mouse liver DNA. Twelve different clones were isolated which contained incomplete MuLV proviral DNA sequences extending various distances from either the 5' or 3' long terminal repeat (LTR) into the viral genome. Restriction maps indicated that the endogenous MuLV DNAs were related to xenotropic MuLVs, but they shared several unique restriction sites among themselves which were not present in known MuLV proviral DNAs. Analyses of internal restriction fragments of the endogenous LTRs suggested the existence of at least two size classes, both of which were larger than the LTRs of known ecotropic, xenotropic, or mink cell focus-forming (MCF) MuLV proviruses. Five of the six cloned endogenous MuLV proviral DNAs which contained envelope (env) DNA sequences annealed to a xenotropic MuLV env-specific DNA probe; in addition, four of these five also hybridized to an ecotropic MuLV-specific env DNA probe. Cloned MCF 247 proviral DNA also contained such dual-reactive env sequences. One of the dual-reactive cloned endogenous MuLV DNAs contained an env region that was indistinguishable by AluI and HpaII digestion from the analogous segment in MCF 247 proviral DNA and may therefore represent a progenitor for the env gene of this recombinant MuLV. In addition, the endogenous MuLV DNAs were highly related by AluI cleavage to the Moloney MuLV provirus in the gag and pol regions.

Analysis of the env gene of a molecularly cloned and biologically active Moloney mink cell focus-forming proviral DNA

A biologically active molecular clone of BALB/Moloney mink cell focus-forming (Mo-MCF) proviral DNA has been reconstructed in vitro. It contains the 5' half of BALB/Moloney murine leukemia virus (Mo-MuLV) DNA and the 3' half of BALB/Mo-MCF DNA. The complete nucleotide sequence of the env gene and the 3' long terminal repeat (LTR) of the cloned Mo-MCF DNA has been determined and compared with the sequence of the corresponding region of parental Mo-MuLV DNA. The substitution in the Mo-MCF DNA encompasses 1,159 base pairs, beginning in the carboxyl terminus of the pol gene and extending to the middle of the env gene. The Mo-MCF env gene product is predicted to be 29 amino acids shorter than the parental Mo-MuLV env gene product. The portion of the env gene encoding the p15E peptide is identical in both viral DNAs. There is an additional A residue in the Mo-MCF viral DNA in a region just preceding the 3' LTR. The nucleotide sequence of the 3' LTR of Mo-MCF DNA is similar to that of the 5' LTR of BALB/Mo-MuLV DNA with the exception of two single base substitutions. We conclude that the sequence substitution in the env gene is responsible for the dual-tropic properties of Mo-MCF viruses.

Friend murine leukemia virus-induced leukemia is associated with the formation of mink cell focus-inducing viruses and is blocked in mice expressing endogenous mink cell focus-inducing xenotropic viral envelope genes

In these studies, we have shown data that are consistent with the hypothesis that mink cell focus-inducing viruses (MCF) play an important role in the generation of an erythroproliferative disease developing after injection of certain strains of newborn mice with ecotropic Friend murine leukemia virus (F-MuLV). Resistance to this disease is correlated with the endogenous expression of an MCF/xenotropic virus-gp70-related protein that may interfere with the replication or spread of MCF viruses. These ideas are supported by the following observations: (a) after infection with F-MuLV, only 6/13 strains of mice-developed disease, and studies with crosses between susceptible and resistant strains indicated that resistance was dominant. Although F-MuLV was shown to replicate equally well in all strains tested, viruses coding for MCF-specific viral envelope proteins could be detected only in the spleens of mice from strains that were resistant to F-MuLV-induced disease and not in the spleens of mice from strains that were resistant to F-MuLV-induced disease; (b) a Friend MCF (Fr-MCF) virus isolated from the spleen of an F-MuLV-infected mouse from a susceptible strain induced the same erythroproliferative disease when injected as an appropriate pseudotype into mice from susceptible but not resistant strains of mice; and (c) resistant but not susceptible strains of mice endogenously express MCF/xenotropic virus-related envelope glycoproteins that may be responsible for resistance by blocking receptors for MCF viruses. These results not only indicate that Fr-MCF virus is a crucial intermediate in the induction of disease by F-MuLV, but also suggest that a novel gene, either an MCF/xenotropic virus-related envelope gene or a gene controlling its expression, is responsible for resistance to erythroleukemia induced by F-MuLV.

Recombinants between temperature-sensitive mutants of rauscher murine leukemia virus and BALB:virus-2: genetic mapping of the Rauscher murine leukemia virus genome

Recombinant viruses were generated in tissue culture between Rauscher murine leukemia virus (MuLV) temperature-sensitive (ts) mutants restricted at different steps in virus replication and a mouse endogenous xenotropic virus, BALB:virus-2. Mutants used included ts 28, a late mutant which releases noninfectious viruses at 39 degrees C, and ts 29, a double mutant with a ts lesion in its reverse transcriptase and a late block affecting virus budding. Immunological typing of the translational products of clonal recombinant viruses made it possible to establish their partial genetic maps and localize regions of the viral genome affected by different ts lesions. Recombinants involving Rauscher MuLV ts 28 invariably contained BALB-virus-2 p15, p12, and p30 proteins, localizing the late defect in replication by this mutant to the 5' moiety of the viral gag gene. All ts 29-derived recombinants contained the entire BALB:virus-2 gag and pol genes. Substitution of the pol gene is in agreement with the reported thermolability of Rauscher MuLV ts 29 reverse transcriptase (Tronick et al., J. Virol. 16:1476-1482, 1975). Substitution of the gag gene suggests that internal structural proteins are actively involved in the virus budding processing. Rauscher MuLV recombinants were used to establish the genetic map of the Rauscher MuLV genome by T1 oligonucleotide fingerprinting analysis. Detection of Rauscher MuLV T1 oligonucleotides in representative recombinant viruses, whose protein phenotypes were established by immunological techniques, permitted their assignment to specific regions of the viral genome. The genetic map of Rauscher MuLV generated in these studies should be useful for identifying and characterizing the viral gene(s) involved in leukemogenesis.

M-MuLV-induced leukemogenesis: integration and structure of recombinant proviruses in tumors

M-MuLV-specific DNA probes were used to establish the state of integration and amplification of recombinant proviral sequences in Moloney virus-induced tumors of Balb/Mo, Balb/c and 129 mice. The somatically acquired viral sequences contain both authentic M-MuLV genomes and recombinants of M-MuLV with endogenous viral sequences. All reintegrated genomes carry long terminal repeat (LTR) sequences at both termini of their genome. In the preleukemic stage a large population of cells exhibiting a random distribution of reintegrated M-MuLV genomes are seen, but during outgrowth of the tumor, selection of cells occurs leaving one or a few clonal descendants in the outgrown tumor. In this latter stage recombinant genomes can be detected. Although these recombinants constitute a heterogeneous group of proviruses, characteristic molecular markers are conserved among many individual proviral recombinants, lending credence to the notion that a certain recombinant structure is a prerequisite for the onset of neoplasia. The structure of these recombinants shows close structural similarities to the previously described mink cell focus-inducing (MCF)-type viruses.

Biological activity of the spleen focus-forming virus is encoded by a molecularly cloned subgenomic fragment of spleen focus-forming virus DNA

A biologically active subgenomic DNA fragment of a polycythemia-inducing strain of the replication-defective spleen focus-forming virus (SFFV) has been molecularly cloned. The SFFV DNA fragment includes 2.0 kilobase pairs (kbp) from the 3' end of SFFV, the long terminal repeat sequences of SFFV, and 0.4 kbp from the 5' end of SFFV. The fragment contains the previously described env-related gene of SFFV. All the properties associated with SFFV can be assigned to this SFFV DNA fragment by using a two-stage DNA transfection assay with infectious helper virus DNA. The virus recovered from the transfection assays can induce erythroblastosis, splenic foci, and polycythemia in infected mice. Fibroblast cultures transfected with the SFFV DNA fragment synthesize gp52, the known intracellular product of the env-related gene of SFFV. gp52 can also be detected in spleens from diseased mice infected with the virus recovered in the two-stage transfection. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that the env-related gene sequences of SFFV and their product gp52 are required for the initiation of SFFV-induced disease.

Surface phenotypes in T-cell leukaemia are determined by oncogenic retroviruses

Spontaneous thymic leukaemia in experimental mice is the result of a complex series of genetically controlled events. An important step in this process involves the production by thymocytes of recombinant polytropic retroviruses (MCF viruses). These leukaemogenic agents arise by recombination of genes from the env regions of endogenous precursor viruses. Sequences in these regions encode the envelope glycoprotein gp70 (ref. 6). Thus far, each cloned isolate of recombinant virus from AKR and HRS/J mice has been found to possess unique oligonucleotide sequences in its env region, as well as clone-specific peptides in its gp70 (refs 7,8). Therefore, the polytropic viruses of these leukaemia-susceptible mice are extremely diverse. These findings suggest that random recombination of env genes gives rise to leukaemogenic polytropic viruses. McGrath and Weissman have proposed that thymocytes with cell surface receptors for the gp70 of a particular leukaemogenic virus are the target cells for malignant transformation by that specific virus. In view of the diversity of polytropic viral gp70, their hypothesis would predict extensive phenotypic diversity among spontaneous thymic leukaemias. In contrast, leukaemias induced by a particular leukaemogenic recombinant virus would always have the same phenotype. Here we verify these predictions experimentally.

Molecular dissection of Rauscher virus gp70 by using monoclonal antibodies: localization of acquired sequences of related envelope gene recombinants

Using hybridoma-specific immune precipitations of fragments derived from Rauscher virus gp70, coupled with peptide patterns (fingerprinting) and partial amino acid sequence analyses, we have generated a linear map of Rauscher gp70. We used a panel of 56 hybridomas derived from the fusion of the drug-selected SP-2 myeloma line with spleen cells from either a 129 GIX+ or a GIX- mouse immunized with purified Rauscher virus gp70. The results showed that by "natural" breakdown, gp70 splits into predominant fragments, with Mr 45,000 (P45), 34,000 (P34), and 32,000 (P32). Peptide fingerprinting of these as well as overlapping fragments coupled with partial amino acid sequence analyses allowed us to align the fragments into the linear arrangement NH2-P45-P32-COOH, with P34 being an NH2-terminal degradation product of P45. Of the 56 hybridomas, 20 immunoprecipitated both P45 and P34; 18 immunoprecipitated only P45; and 18 immunoprecipitated only P32. The hybridomas thus define three domains of the molecule as NH2-P45/P34, P45 only, and P32-COOH. Allowing these hybridomas to react with two Rauscher-derived envelope gene recombinant viruses yielded the following results: (i) all 20 P45/34 reactors bound to the two Rauscher recombinants; (ii) of 18 P45-only hybridomas, 10 reacted; and (iii) only 1 of 18 P32 reactors bound to the Rauscher recombinants. This last hybridoma reacted with various murine retroviruses, indicating that it was directed at conserved determinants of gp70. Peptide fingerprinting of R-gp70, the recombinant gp70s, and their respective breakdown products confirmed the homologies and nonhomologies defined by the hybridomas. Furthermore, peptide patterns showed that these acquired sequences on the COOH-terminal portion of the recombinant gp70s are related to xenotropic virus gp70s.

Differences in glycosylation patterns of closely related murine leukemia viruses

The nature of the carbohydrate chains in the major envelope glycoprotein of murine leukemia virus, gp70, and its cellular precursor has been investigated. A difference in the oligosaccharide composition of gp70 from an ecotropic murine leukemia virus (Akv) and three recombinant dual-tropic viruses [mink cell focus-inducing viruses (MCFs)] derived from Akv was demonstrated. Glycosidase digestion and gel filtration were utilized to identify the two classes of N-asparagine-linked oligosaccharides, high-mannose and complex. The gp70 of the ecotropic virus contained only N-linked oligosaccharides of the complex type. In contrast, the gp70s of the dual-tropic viruses contained both high-mannose and complex oligosaccharides. Analysis of gp70 glycopeptides from an MCF-related xenotropic virus showed an elution profile similar, but not identical, to profiles of the MCFs. The gp70 precursors isolated from cells infected with Akv or MCF virus contained N-linked oligosaccharides that were exclusively of the high-mannose type. Comparison of the high-mannose oligosaccharides of the MCF gp70 precursors with those of the corresponding gp70s indicated that very little further processing of the high-mannose residues in the gp70s had occurred. The presence of the high-mannose oligosaccharides in the envelope glycoprotein of the dual-tropic viruses results from altered carbohydrate processing. The conservation of this altered carbohydrate pattern in a number of hosts and under various conditions of growth suggests that the viral protein structure is the primary factor in determining the different mode of glycosylation of the MCF gp70s. Thus, these viral glycoproteins provide an important model system for studying the relationship between protein structure and patterns of glycosylation.

Genome organization of retroviruses. VI. Heteroduplex analysis of ecotropic and xenotropic sequences of moloney mink cell focus-inducing viral RNA obtained from either a cloned isolate or a thymoma cell line

The genome of a recombinant murine leukemia virus capable of inducing focal areas of morphological alteration in mink lung fibroblasts was studied by heteroduplex analysis. The dual-tropic recombinant virus was isolated from a thymoma cell line (Th16.3) and is referred to as BALB/Moloney mink cell focus-inducing virus (BALB/Mo-MCF virus). The nucleic acid sequences of RNA from virions obtained from either a thymoma cell line (Th16.3) or a clonal isolate (BALB/Mo-MCF81) were compared with the genomes of ecotropic and xenotropic viruses. The following inferences were drawn (i) A single nonhomologous region (substitution loop alpha) of about 0.7 kilobase was observed in a heteroduplex formed between Moloney murine leukemia virus complementary DNA (cDNA) and BALB/MoMCF81 RNA. This nonhomology region was mapped between 1.71 and 2.40 kilobases from the 3' end of the genome. (ii) The predominant class of heteroduplexes formed between virion RNA obtained from the thymoma cell line (Th16.3) and Moloney murine leukemia virus cDNA showed a substitution loop similar to that observed with the RNA obtained from a cloned isolate, BALB/Mo-MCF81. However, there were other molecules with additional regions of nonhomology. (iii) Heteroduplexes formed between NZB xenotropic RNA and ecotropic Moloney murine leukemia virus cDNA exhibited four major nonhomology regions extending 0.75 to 1.46, 2.0 to 2.8, 3.6 to 4.3, and 7.4 to 7.9 kilobases from the 3' end of the genome. (iv) The MCF-specific substitution loop alpha (1.71 to 2.40 kilobases) appeared as a duplex region when NZB xenotropic RNA was hybridized to cDNA transcripts synthesized by virions obtained from thymoma cell line Th16.3. The position of the other substitution loops observed in a heteroduplex formed between NZB xenotropic RNA and Moloney murine leukemia virus cDNA was not affected. (v) Heteroduplexes formed between xenotropic BALB virus 2 cDNA and NZB xenotropic RNA demonstrated a large degree of nucleic acid sequence homology. Of the 29 heteroduplexes examined, 24 appeared to be homoduplexes, and in the remaining 5 heteroduplexes only one region of nonhomology located between 3.2 and 3.8 kilobases from the 3' end of the genome could be identified. Hybridization of BALB virus 2 xenotropic RNA to NZB xenotropic cDNA followed by digestion with single-strand-specific nuclease S1 showed an 80% sequence homology.

In vitro induction of T-lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity by infectious murine type C oncornaviruses

We have developed a system to induce oncornavirus-specific secondary cytotoxic response in vitro. When Moloney strain of murine sarcoma virus-immune spleen cells were cultivated with purified infectious Moloney murine leukemia virus (M-MuLV) or with supernates of tissue culture cells containing infectious virus, a virus-specific secondary cytotoxic response directed against type-specific determinant(s) of M-MuLV was generated in vitro, as determined by a 4-h 51Cr-release assay. The effector cells were susceptible to the treatment with anti-Thyl.2 plus complement, but were unrelated to natural killer cells (NK), because they could not lyse some target cells specific for M-MuLV in both the induction phase and the interaction between effector cells and target cells. Furthermore, a product of the env gene of M-MuLV, perhaps gp70, appeared to be responsible for this response, because viruses with recombinations in the env gene between ecotropic M-MuLV and a xenotropic virus failed to induce a response. When infectious M-MuLV was exposed to UV-light at different doses, the ability of UV-treated M-MuLV to induce a secondary cytotoxic response decreased in parallel with infectivity, indicating that infectivity was necessary for the induction of this response.

Identification of a sarcoma virus-coded phosphoprotein in nonproducer cells transformed by Kirsten or Harvey murine sarcoma virus

A similar protein of 21,000 MW (p21) coded for by Harvey or Kirsten murine sarcoma virus has been identified in nonproducer cells transformed by these two viruses. Antisera prepared from rats bearing tumors induced by syngeneic transplantation of NRK cells transformed by Harvey murine sarcoma virus (Ha-MuSV) specifically precipitated the Ha-MuSV p21 from a nonproducer Balb/c mouse cell and a nonproducer dog cell transformed by Ha-MuSV. The same antisera also precipitated a similar protein, Ki-MuSV p21, from a nonproducer mink cell transformed by Kirsten murine sarcoma virus (Ki-MuSV). Both the p21 of Ha-MuSV and of Ki-MuSV are phosphoproteins. Previous studies have reported a virus-specific p21 polypeptide from translation of Ha-MuSV RNA in cell-free protein synthesis systems (W. P. Parks and E. M. Scolnick, 1977, J. Virol. 22, 711-719; T. Y. Shih, D. R. Williams, M. O. Weeks, J. M. Maryak, W. C. Vass, and E. M. Scolnick, 1978, J. Virol 27, 45-55). This p21 protein was specifically precipitated by the same anti-tumor sera. Similarly, a p21 polypeptide translated from Ki-MuSV RNA was also specifically precipitated by the antitumor sera. Therefore, it is concluded that the p21 of Ha-MuSV and Ki-MuSV are homologous proteins coded for bv homologous sequences found in the recombinant genomes of Ha-MuSV and Ki-MuSV.

Spleen focus-forming Friend virus: identification of genomic RNA and its relationship to helper virus RNA

The genome of the defective, murine spleen focus-forming Friend virus (SFFV) was identified as a 50S RNA complex consisting of 32S RNA monomers. Electrophoretic mobility and the molecular weights of unique RNase T1-resistant oligonucleotides (T1-oligonucleotides) indicated that the 32S RNA had a complexity of about 7.4 kilobases. Hybridization with DNA complementary to Friend murine leukemia virus (Fr-MLV) has distinguished two sets of nucleotide sequences in 32S SFFV RNA, 74% which were Fr-MLV related and 26% which were SFFV specific. By the same method, SFFV RNA was 48% related to Moloney MLV. We have resolved 23 large T1-oligonucleotides of SFFV RNA and 43 of Fr-MLV RNA. On the basis of the relationship between SFFV and Fr-MLV RNAs, the 23 SFFV oligonucleotides fell into four classes: (i) seven which had homologous equivalents in Fr-MLV RNA; (ii) six more which could be isolated from SFFV RNA-Fr-MLV cDNA hybrids treated with RNases A and T1; (iii) eight more which were isolated from hybrids treated with RNases A and T1; and (iv) two which did not have Fr-MLV-related counterparts. Surprisingly, the two class iv oligonucleotides had homologous counterparts in the RNA of six amphotropic MLV's including mink cell focus-forming and HIX-MLVs analyzed previously. The map locations of the 23 SFFV T1-oligonucleotides relative to the 3' polyadenylic acid coordinate of SFFV RNA were deduced from the size of the smallest polyadenylic acid-tagged RNA fragment from which a given oligonucleotide was isolated. The resulting oligonucleotide map could be divided roughly into three segments: two terminal segments which are mosaics of oligonucleotides of classes i, ii, and iii and an internal segment between 2 and 2.5 kilobases from the 3' end containing the two oligonucleotides shared with amphotropic MLVs. Since SFFV RNA consists predominantly of sequence elements related to ecotropic and amphotropic helper-independent MLVs, it would appear that the transforming gene of SFFV is not a major specific sequence unrelated to genes of helper viruses, as is the case with Rous sarcoma and probably withe other defective sarcoma and acute leukemia viruses.

Defective retrovirus-like 30S RNA species of rat and mouse cells are infectious if packaged by type C helper virus

RNA species with properties of defective retrovirus-like 30S RNA genomes have previously been detected in both rats and mice and in some rat and mouse retroviruses. Using cell lines which express high levels of this retrovirus-like RNA, we formed pseudotypes of the 30S RNAs with helper-independent type C viruses. A pseudotype virus complex containing a mouse 30S subunit was transmitted to rat cells, and a pseudotype virus complex containing a rat 30S subunit was transmitted to bat cells. In other transmission experiments, a rat 30S subunit was isolated in nonproducer bat cells without detectable expression of the helper-independent type C virus used to pseudotype it. The results provide further support for the retrovirus-like nature of the rat 30S subunit and provide evidence which supports the protovirus hypothesis proposed by Temin.

A defined subgenomic fragment of in vitro synthesized Moloney sarcoma virus DNA can induce cell transformation upon transfection

The longest DNA molecules synthesized by endogenous reverse transcription in detergent-permeabilized Moloney murine sarcoma virus (Mo-MSV) virions (clone G8-124) are double-stranded DNA molecules of 5,8 kilobase pairs (kbp). This DNA species has been purified by sedimentation of total in vitro synthesized Mo-MSV DNA through neutral sucrose gradients. A physical map of the positions of the cleavage sites for a series of restriction endonucleases has been derived for this 5.8 kbp DNA. Mo-MSV DNA synthesized in vitro was found to induce morphological transformation of NIH-3T3 mouse fibroblasts upon transfection. The foci had a morphology indistinguishable from that of Mo-MSV-induced foci, and the induced transformed phenotype was stable. The 5.8 kbp double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) purified by agarose gel electrophoresis also induced focal transformation. Furthermore, gel-purified, restriction endonuclease-generated fragments of 5.8 kbp dsDNA containing the region from 2.8--4.9 kbp on the physical map of Mo-MSV DNA were able to induce foci. In contrast, endonuclease-generated DNA fragments lacking this region on the map were unable to transform cells upon transfection. When transformants derived by transfection with 5.8 kbp dsDNA were infected with Moloney murine leukemia virus (Mo-MLV) helper virus, Mo-MSV was rescued from a small portion of these cells, suggesting the establishment of the complete viral genome in these cells. One Mo-MSV DNA fragment, spanning 2.8--4.9 kbp on the physical map, was generated by cleavage of 5.8 kbp DNA with endonucleases Hind III + Sal I and currently represents our maximum estimate for the size of the transforming region of the Mo-MSV genome. This fragment includes the Mo-MSV sequences which are found in the DNA of uninfected mouse cells.

Heteroduplex analysis of the sequence relations between the RNAs of mink cell focus-inducing and murine leukemia viruses

The sequence relationships betwen AKR ecotropic virus and an AKR-derived "mink cell focus-inducing" (MCF) isolate (AKR MCF 247), between Moloney murine leukemia virus (M-MLV) and an M-MLV MCF isolate (M-MLV83), and between AKR and M-MLV were studied by electron microscopic heteroduplex analysis. The MCF-specific sequences were found to map from 1.95 kilobases (kb) to 2.75 kb (+/- 0.15 kb) from the 3' end of the RNAs for both MCF isolates. The major sequence nonhomology regions between AKR and M-MLV lie between 0.9 and 3.5 kb from the 3' end. However, the AKR and M-MLV sequences immediately adjacent to the 1.95- and 2.75-kb junctions with MCF-specific sequences are relatively similar in AKR and M-MLV. Our results suggest that the env gene of MLVs maps from 1 kb to 3 kb from the 3' end of the genomic RNA and that the carboxyl end of the glycoprotein of each MCF strain is similar (or identical) to that of its ecotropic parent.

Comparison of the genomic organization of Kirsten and Harvey sarcoma viruses

Current studies were undertaken to compare the genomes of Kirsten murine sarcoma virus (Ki-MuSV), Harvey murine sarcoma virus (Ha-MuSV), and the replication-defective endogenous rat virus to understand the function of these viral RNAs. Genome organization and sequence homology were studied by fingerprinting large RNase T1-resistant oligonucleotides and by cross-protecting homologous oligonucleotides against RNase A and T1 digestion with complementary DNA prepared from each of the other viral RNA. Ki-MuSV and Ha-MuSV were found to share an extensive series of rat-derived oligonucleotides begining ca. 1 kilobase (kb) from the 3' end and extending to within 1.5 kb of the 5'end of Ki-MuSV RNA. The total map distance covered in ca. 5.5 kb. The eight oligonucleotides covering the 1.5 kb at the 5' end of Ki-MuSV RNA were not found in Ha-MuSV RNA. Five out of these eight oligonucleotides, however, could be designated with certainty to be of rat virus origin. Since Ha-MuSV is 6.5 kb in size and Ki-MuSV is 8 kb in size, the major difference between them is the 1.5 kb from the replication-defective endogenous rat virus sequences at the 5' end of Ki-MuSV not present in Ha-MuSV. Consistent with the difference in the genome structure, these two sarcoma viral RNA'S yielded distinct major translation products in cell-free systems, I.E., A 50,000-dalton polypeptide (P50) from Ki-MuSV and a 22,000-dalton polypeptide (p22) from Ha-MuSV. These polypeptides may provide the necessary protein makers for identifying in vivo virus-coded proteins.