Abelson murine leukemia virus: molecular cloning of infectious integrated proviral DNA

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1981 Apr;78(4):2077-81. doi: 10.1073/pnas.78.4.2077.

Abstract

The integrated proviral genome of Abelson murine leukemia virus (A-MuLV) was cloned in lambda gtWES . lambda B bacteriophage after EcoRI endonuclease digestion and enrichment of proviral sequences by sequential RPC-5 column chromatography and agarose gel electrophoresis. Recombinant DNA clones containing a 7.8-kilobase-pair EcoRI insert were shown to have the entire integrated A-MuLV genome with both 5' and 3' ends flanked by mink cellular DNA sequences. This DNA fragment was shown to induce focus transformation upon transfection of NIH/3T3 mouse cells. Moreover, focus-forming virus could be rescued from transformed nonproducer cells upon superinfection with a type C helper virus. A polyprotein of molecular weight 120,000 (p120) containing murine leukemia virus gag gene determinants was invariably deteced by immunoprecipitation analysis of individual transformants induced by the 7.8-kilobase-pair DNA. Molecularly cloned integrated A-MuLV in its infectious form should be of use in elucidating the mechanisms involved in transformation by this virus.

MeSH terms

  • Abelson murine leukemia virus / genetics*
  • Animals
  • Bacteriophage lambda / genetics
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Transformation, Viral*
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • DNA Restriction Enzymes / metabolism
  • DNA, Viral / genetics*
  • Defective Viruses / genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Genes, Viral
  • Leukemia Virus, Murine / genetics*
  • Mice
  • Virus Replication

Substances

  • DNA, Viral
  • DNA Restriction Enzymes