Contribution of the gag and pol sequences to the leukemogenicity of Friend murine leukemia virus Journal Article


Authors: Oliff, A.; McKinney, M. D.; Agranovsky, O.
Article Title: Contribution of the gag and pol sequences to the leukemogenicity of Friend murine leukemia virus
Abstract: Friend murine leukemia virus (F-MuLV) is a highly leukemogenic replication-competent murine retrovirus. Both the F-MuLV envelope gene and the long terminal repeat (LTR) contribute to its pathogenic phenotype. To determine whether the F-MuLV gag and pol genes also possess sequences that affect leukemogenicity, we generated recombinant viruses between the F-MuLV gag and pol genes and two other murine retroviruses, amphotrophic clone 4070 (Ampho) and Friend mink cell focus-inducing virus (Fr-MCF). The F-MuLV gag and pol genes were molecularly cloned on a 5.8-kilobase-pair DNA fragment. This 5.8-kilobase-pair F-MuLV DNA was joined to the Ampho envelope gene and LTR creating a hybrid viral DNA, F/A E+L. A second hybrid viral DNA, F/Fr ENV, was made by joining the 5.8-kilobase-pair F-MuLV DNA to the Fr-MCF envelope gene plus the F-MuLV LTR. F/A E+L and F/Fr ENV DNAs generated recombinant viruses upon transfection into NIH 3T3 cells. F/A E+L virus (F-MuLV gag and pol, Ampho env and LTR) induced leukemia in 20% of NIH Swiss mice after 6 months. Ampho-infected mice did not develop leukemia. F/Fr ENV virus (F-MuLV gag and pol, Fr-MCV env, F-MuLV) induced leukemia in 46% of mice after 3 months. Recombinant viruses containing the Ampho gag and pol, Fr-MCF env, and F-MuLV LTR caused leukemia in 38% of mice after 6 months. We conclude that the F-MuLV gag and pol genes contain sequences that contribute to the pathogenicity of murine retroviruses. These sequences can convert a nonpathogenic virus into a leukemia-causing virus or increase the pathogenicity of viruses that are already leukemogenic.
Keywords: leukemia; gene sequence; nonhuman; mouse; heredity; animal experiment; in vitro study; molecular cloning; genetic engineering; cell culture; radioisotope; virus recombinant; autoradiography; complementary dna; nucleic acid; experimental infection; gag protein; virus pathogenesis; murine leukemia virus; dna transfection; priority journal; oncovirinae; pol protein; cell hybridization; blood and hemopoietic system
Journal Title: Journal of Virology
Volume: 54
Issue: 3
ISSN: 0022-538X
Publisher: American Society for Microbiology  
Date Published: 1985-06-01
Start Page: 864
End Page: 868
Language: English
DOI: 10.1128/jvi.54.3.864-868.1985
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC254876
PUBMED: 3999195
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 26 October 2021 -- Source: Scopus
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