Genetic mapping of a cellular DNA region involved in induction of thymic lymphomas (Mlvi-1) to mouse chromosome 15.

Mlvi-1 defines a genetic locus representing a common domain for proviral DNA integration in Moloney murine leukemia virus-induced rat thymic lymphomas. Cellular sequences homologous to Mlvi-1 are present in mouse DNA, and we have used hamster-mouse somatic cell hybrids to chromosomally map Mlvi-1 in the mouse genome. Results demonstrated that Mlvi-1 maps to mouse chromosome 15 and that it is distinct from the Mlvi-2 integration region and from the cellular oncogenes c-myc and c-sis, which also map to this chromosome. Therefore, Mlvi-1 may contain novel sequences involved in the establishment and maintenance of virus-induced murine tumors, many of which contain abnormalities of chromosome 15.     

Cellular DNA regions involved in the induction of rat thymic lymphomas (Mlvi-1, Mlvi-2, Mlvi-3, and c-myc) represent independent loci as determined by their chromosomal map location in the rat.

The induction of thymic lymphomas by Moloney murine leukemia virus in the rat is linked to provirus integration in at least four independent cellular DNA regions (Mlvi-1, Mlvi-2, Mlvi-3, and c-myc). Because sequences homologous to at least three of these regions (Mlvi-1, Mlvi-2, and c-myc) map to chromosome 15 in the mouse, the question was raised whether they are closely linked in the rat genome and whether provirus integration in any one of these regions affects the same functional domain in rat DNA. In this study, we identified the chromosomal map location of Mlvi-1, Mlvi-2, and Mlvi-3 in the rat by using mouse-rat somatic cell hybrids that lose the rat chromosomes. The results showed that Mlvi-1 maps similarly to c-myc to chromosome 7, and Mlvi-2 maps to chromosome 2. Mlvi-3 probably maps to chromosome 15. We conclude that Mlvi-1, Mlvi-2, and Mlvi-3 are separate and independent genetic loci. Although Mlvi-1 and c-myc map to the same chromosome, they are not related, as determined by hybridization and restriction endonuclease mapping. The chromosomal map location of Mlvi-1 to chromosome 7 and Mlvi-2 to chromosome 2 is interesting, since chromosomal aberrations involving these two chromosomes are reproducibly observed in rat neoplasias induced by a variety of agents.     

Identification of a common viral integration region in Cas-Br-E murine leukemia virus-induced non-T-, non-B-cell lymphomas.

The Cas-Br-E murine leukemia virus is a nondefective retrovirus that induces non-T-, non-B-cell lymphomas in susceptible NIH/Swiss mice. By using a DNA probe derived from Cas-Br-E provirus-flanking sequences, we identified a DNA region, originally called Sic-1, rearranged in 16 of 24 tumors analyzed (67%). All proviruses were integrated in a DNA segment smaller than 100 bp and were in the same 5'-to-3' orientation. Ecotropic as well as mink cell focus-forming virus types were found integrated in that specific DNA region. On the basis of Southern blot analysis of somatic cell hybrids and progeny of an interspecies backcross, the Sic-1 region was localized on mouse chromosome 9 near the previously described proto-oncogenes or common viral integration sites: Ets-1, Cbl-2, Tpl-1, and Fli-1. Restriction map analysis shows that this region is identical to the Fli-1 locus identified in Friend murine leukemia virus-induced erythroleukemia cell lines and thus may contain sequences also responsible for the development of mouse non-T-, non-B-cell lymphomas.     

Mouse chromosomal mapping of a murine leukemia virus integration region (Mis-1) first identified in rat thymic leukemia.

We have previously identified a region of genomic DNA which constitutes the site of frequent provirus integration in rat thymomas induced by Moloney murine leukemia virus (Lemay and Jolicoeur, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 81:38-42, 1984). This genetic locus is now designated Mis-1 (Moloney integration site). Cellular sequences homologous to Mis-1 are present in mouse DNA. Using a series of hamster-mouse somatic cell hybrids, we mapped the Mis-1 locus to mouse chromosome 15. Frequent chromosome 15 aberrations have been described in mouse thymomas. Mis-1 represents a putative new oncogene which might be involved in the initiation or maintenance or both of these neoplasms.     

Integration of type B retroviral DNA in virus-induced primary murine thymic lymphomas

In previous studies we described the isolation and characterization of a highly leukemogenic virus, DMBA-LV, isolated from a transplanted, chemical carcinogen-induced thymic lymphoma. The virus is composed of a mixture of two unrelated retroviral genomes, one highly related to type B milk-borne mouse mammary tumor virus isolates and the other partially related to type C viral genomes. In the present study, primary thymic lymphomas induced by DMBA-LV in CFW/D, NIH Swiss, C3H/Bi/Ka, and C57BL/Ka mice were assessed for the presence of newly integrated type B retroviral DNA. All 46 primary thymic lymphomas examined contained one to four newly acquired murine mammary tumor virus proviruses. Based on the sizes of provirus-cell DNA junction fragments, the integration of newly acquired murine mammary tumor virus proviruses did not appear to be random.     

Radiation leukemia virus common integration at the Kis2 locus: simultaneous overexpression of a novel noncoding RNA and of the proximal Phf6 gene

Retroviral tagging has been used extensively and successfully to identify genes implicated in cancer pathways. In order to find oncogenes implicated in T-cell leukemia, we used the highly leukemogenic radiation leukemia retrovirus VL3 (RadLV/VL3). We applied the inverted PCR technique to isolate and analyze sequences flanking proviral integrations in RadLV/VL3-induced T lymphomas. We found retroviral integrations in c-myc and Pim1 as already reported but we also identified for the first time Notch1 as a RadLV common integration site. More interestingly, we found a new RadLV common integration site that is situated on mouse chromosome X (XA4 region, bp 45091000). This site has also been reported as an SL3-3 and Moloney murine leukemia virus integration site, which strengthens its implication in murine leukemia virus-induced T lymphomas. This locus, named Kis2 (Kaplan Integration Site 2), was found rearranged in 11% of the tumors analyzed. In this article, we report not only the alteration of the Kis2 gene located nearby in response to RadLV integration but also the induction of the expression of Phf6, situated about 250 kbp from the integration site. The Kis2 gene encodes five different alternatively spliced noncoding RNAs and the Phf6 gene codes for a 365-amino-acid protein which contains two plant homology domain fingers, recently implicated in the B?rjeson-Forssman-Lehmann syndrome in humans. With the recent release of the mouse genome sequence, high-throughput retroviral tagging emerges as a powerful tool in the quest for oncogenes. It also allows the analysis of large DNA regions surrounding the integration locus.     

Influence of murine leukemia proviral integrations on development of N-methyl-N-nitrosourea-induced thymic lymphomas in AKR mice.

The AKR mouse strain is characterized by a high incidence of spontaneous thymic lymphoma that appears in older animals (greater than 6 months of age) and is associated with novel provirus integrations of ecotropic and recombinant murine leukemia viruses (MuLVs). Treatment of 4- to 6-week-old AKR/J mice with the carcinogen N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) results in thymic lymphomas that arise as early as 3 to 4 months of age and contain novel somatically acquired MuLV provirus integrations. The AKR/J strain develops MNU-induced lymphoma with a higher incidence and shorter latency than has been observed for other inbred mouse strains. To determine whether provirus integrations of endogenous MuLV account for the enhanced susceptibility of the AKR strain, the incidence and latency of MNU-induced lymphoma development was compared in AKR/J and AKR.Fv-1b mice. The restrictive b allele of the Fv-1 locus restricts integration and replication of endogenous N-tropic MuLV; therefore, AKR-Fv-1b mice have a very low incidence of spontaneous lymphoma. In contrast, AKR.Fv-1b mice develop MNU-induced lymphomas with an incidence and latency similar to those of the AKR/J strain. Furthermore, thymic lymphomas from both strains express an immature CD4-8+ phenotype, indicating neoplastic transformation of the same thymocyte subset. Southern blot analysis confirmed that lymphoma DNA from AKR.Fv-1b mice did not contain somatically acquired provirus integrations. These results demonstrate that provirus integration does not contribute to the predisposition of AKR mice to develop a high incidence of early MNU-induced lymphomas. Nevertheless, MNU treatment stimulated high-level expression of infectious ecotropic MuLV in AKR.Fv-1b as well as in AKR/J mice, suggesting that viral gene products might enhance lymphoma progression.     

Ribonucleotide reductase M2 subunit sequences mapped to four different chromosomal sites in humans and mice: functional locus identified by its amplification in hydroxyurea-resistant cell lines

The sites of sequences homologous to a murine cDNA for ribonucleotide reductase (RR) subunit M2 were determined on human and murine chromosomes by Southern blot analysis of interspecies somatic cell hybrid lines and by in situ hybridization. In the human genome, four chromosomal sites carrying RRM2-related sequences were identified at 1p31----p33, 1q21----q23, 2p24----p25, and Xp11----p21. In the mouse, M2 sequences were found on chromosomes 4, 7, 12, and 13 by somatic cell hybrid studies. By Southern analysis of human hydroxyurea-resistant cells that overproduce M2 because of gene amplification, we have identified the amplified restriction fragments as those that map to chromosome 2. To further confirm the site of the functional RRM2 locus, two other cDNA clones, p5-8 and S7 (coding for ornithine decarboxylase; ODC), which are coamplified with RRM2 sequences in human and rodent hydroxyurea-resistant cell lines, were mapped by Southern and in situ hybridization. Their chromosomal map positions coincided with the region of human chromosome 2 (p24----p25) that also contains one of the four RRM2-like sequences. Since this RRM2 sequence and p5-8 and ODC are most likely part of the same amplification unit, the RRM2 structural gene can be assigned to human chromosome 2p24----p25. This region is homologous to a region of mouse chromosome 12 that also carries one of numerous ODC-like sequences. In an RRM2-overproducing mouse cell line, we found amplification of the chromosome 12-specific restriction fragments. Thus, we conclude that mouse chromosome 12 carries the functional locus for RRM2.     

Chromosomal mapping of four different integration sites of Moloney murine leukemia virus including the locus for alpha 1(I) collagen in mouse

Infection of mouse embryos with Moloney murine leukemia virus (M-MuLV) has yielded several mouse substrains with stable germ line integration of retroviral DNA at distinct chromosomal loci (Mov loci; Jaenisch et al., 1981). There is evidence that flanking DNA sequences can have an effect on virus expression and, conversely, inserted viral DNA may affect the expression of adjacent host genes. As part of our studies on the interaction of inserted M-MuLV with the mouse genome, we have chromosomally mapped four different Mov loci by hybridizing single-copy mouse sequences, flanking the proviral DNA, to interspecies somatic cell hybrids. Furthermore, these sequences were assigned regionally by in situ hybridization to mouse metaphase chromosomes. In Mov-13 mice, M-MuLV had inserted into the alpha 1(I) collagen gene leading to early embryonic death in homozygotes. We have assigned this locus to the distal region of chromosome 11. Thus, the alpha 1(I) collagen gene is part of an evolutionarily conserved linkage group with the homologous genes on human chromosome 17. Three other proviral integration sites were mapped to chromosome 1, bands BC (Mov-7), chromosome 11, bands BC (Mov-9), and chromosome 3, bands FG (Mov-10). The Mov-10-specific probe detects an EcoRI-specific restriction fragment length polymorphism, which can make this probe a useful genetic marker.     

AKR thymic lymphomas involving mink cell focus-inducing murine leukemia viruses have a common region of provirus integration

Newly acquired proviruses related to a mink cell focus-inducing murine leukemia virus were detected in low copy number in restriction endonuclease-digested DNAs from thymic lymphomas of AKR/J mice. These extra proviruses were not present in DNAs of either normal thymus or leukemic brain tissues. Extra tumor-specific DNA fragments generated by restriction endonucleases either were identical in size or fell into similar size classes, suggesting a common site(s) of provirus integration. Characterization of extra EcoRI DNA fragments for mink cell focus-inducing viral sequences revealed that all of them contained large terminal repeat sequences and that a significant number represented proviruses with deletions.     

Localization of the growth hormone gene to the distal half of mouse chromosome 11

A DNA fragment size variant for the growth hormone gene, Gh, has been identified among inbred strains of mice. The inbred strains SM/J and CAST/Ei carry the less frequent allele Ghb and 11 other strains carry the Gha allele. Segregation analysis of data from two crosses involving SM/J and NZB/BINJ and a cross involving BALB/cJ and CAST/Ei confirmed the assignment of Gh to mouse chromosome 11 and placed the locus 2.6 +/- 1.8 map units distal to Erba (avian erythroblastosis oncogene A), a position consistent with the assignment of the Gh locus to the q22-q24 region of chromosome 17 on the human map. Segregation analysis also refined the location of Sparc (secreted acidic cysteine-rich glycoprotein) on mouse chromosome 11 to a position 16.7 +/- 4.2 map units proximal to Evi-2 (ecotropic viral integration site 2).     

The human homolog of the Moloney leukemia virus integration 2 locus (MLV12) maps to band p14 of chromosome 5

The Moloney leukemia virus integration 2 (MLV12) locus represents a common region for proviral integration and a putative oncogene involved in the induction of thymic lymphomas in rodents. The human homolog of the MLV12 locus has been cloned and studies have been initiated to determine its possible role in the induction and progression of human neoplasms. In this study we used a panel of human X rodent somatic cell hybrids and in situ hybridization to metaphase chromosomes to map MLV12 to the short arm of the human chromosome 5, band p14.     

Proviral integration site Mis-1 in rat thymomas corresponds to the pvt-1 translocation breakpoint in murine plasmacytomas.

Two loci independently implicated in T-and B-lymphocyte neoplasia are shown to be equivalent. The Mis-1 locus is a common proviral integration site in retrovirally induced rat T lymphomas, while the pvt-1 locus on murine chromosome 15 frequently translocates to the kappa locus in plasmacytomas bearing 6;15 translocations. By comparing cloned sequences, we show that pvt-1 is the murine homolog of Mis-1.     

Identification of a common helper provirus integration site in Abelson murine leukemia virus-induced lymphoma DNA.

Abelson murine leukemia virus induces oligoclonal pre-B lymphoma in mice. The expression of the v-abl oncogene in target cells does not appear to be sufficient for tumor induction in several mouse strains, and additional genetic events are thought to be required. We postulated that the helper Moloney murine leukemia virus might induce these events, and its potential role as an insertional mutagen was assessed by the search of a common helper provirus integration site in Abelson murine leukemia virus lymphomas. Molecular cloning of cellular sequences adjacent to Moloney proviruses enabled us to identify a cellular region, designated Ahi-1, which was found occupied by the helper proviruses in 16% of Abelson pre-B-cell lymphomas. All proviruses for which the precise integration site within Ahi-1 could be mapped were found to be in the same orientation. Ahi-1 has been mapped to mouse chromosome 10 and represents a new common proviral integration site. These data suggest that the helper virus contributes to the induction of secondary genetic events which may be important for the development of Abelson murine leukemia virus-induced pre-B-cell lymphoma.     

Common proviral integration region on mouse chromosome 7 in lymphomas and myelogenous leukemias induced by Friend murine leukemia virus.

Friend murine leukemia virus (F-MuLV) induces a variety of hematopoietic neoplasms 2 to 12 months after inoculation into newborn mice. These neoplasms are clonal or oligoclonal and contain a small number of F-MuLV insertions in high-molecular-weight DNA. To investigate whether different tumors have proviral insertions in the same region, a provirus-cellular DNA junction fragment from an F-MuLV-induced myelogenous leukemia was cloned in lambda gtWES, and a portion of the flanking cellular DNA sequence was used in blot-hybridization studies of 34 additional F-MuLV-induced neoplasms. Three of these additional neoplasms (one myelogenous leukemia and two lymphomas) were found to have altered copies of the flanking cellular sequence. Restriction enzyme analysis of genomic DNA from these tumors revealed that in each case a proviral copy of F-MuLV had inserted into the same 1.5-kilobase region; all proviruses had the same orientation. Using mouse-Chinese hamster somatic cell hybrids, we mapped this common integration region, designated Fis-1, to mouse chromosome 7. Fis-1 is distinct from three oncogenes on mouse chromosome 7, Ha-ras, fes, and Int-2, based on restriction enzyme analysis and blot hybridization. Therefore, Fis-1 appears to be a novel sequence implicated in both lymphoid and myeloid leukemias induced by F-MuLV.     

Activation of the prolactin receptor gene by promoter insertion in a Moloney murine leukemia virus-induced rat thymoma.

The prolactin receptor (Prlr) and growth hormone receptor (Ghr) genes and the Moloney murine leukemia virus integration-2 (Mlvi-2) locus were mapped to mouse chromosome 15 and human chromosome 5 bands p12-p14. To examine the potential relationship between Mlvi-2 and the genes encoding the growth hormone receptor and the prolactin receptor, we determined the chromosomal location of all three loci in the rat, using a panel of rat-mouse somatic cell hybrids, and in the mouse, using a panel of (C57BL/6J x Mus spretus)F1 x C57BL/6J interspecific backcross mice. These analyses revealed that Ghr, Prlr, and Mlvi-2 map to chromosome 2 in the rat and to chromosome 15 in the mouse, in close proximity with each other. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis of rat genomic DNA showed no overlaps between the gene encoding the prolactin receptor and the remaining loci. Moreover, expression of the prolactin receptor was not affected by provirus insertion in Mlvi-2. During these studies, however, we detected one T-cell lymphoma line (2779) in which the prolactin receptor gene was activated by provirus integration. Sequence analysis of polymerase chain reaction-derived cDNA clones showed that the prolactin receptor RNA message initiates at the 5' long terminal repeat and utilizes the splice donor site 5' of the gag gene to splice the viral sequences onto exon 1 of the prolactin receptor. This message is predicted to encode the intact prolactin receptor protein product. Exposure of the T-cell lymphoma line 2779 to prolactin promoted cellular proliferation.     

Isolation and regional mapping of DNA sequences unique to human chromosome 21.

To isolate DNA sequences unique to chromosome 21 we have used a recombinant-DNA library, constructed from a mouse-human somatic-cell hybrid line containing chromosome 21 as the only human chromosome. Individual recombinant phage containing human DNA inserts were identified by their hybridization to total human DNA sequences and by their failure to hybridize to total mouse DNA sequences. A repeat-free human DNA fragment was then subcloned from each of 14 such recombinant phage. An independent somatic-cell hybrid was used to assign all 14 subcloned fragments to chromosome 21. Thirteen of the fragments have been regionally mapped using a somatic-cell hybrid containing a human 21 translocation chromosome. Two probes map proximal to the 21q21.2 translocation breakpoint, and 11 probes map distal to this breakpoint, placing them in the region 21q21.2-21q22. One of seven probes used to screen for restriction-fragment-length polymorphisms recognized polymorphic DNA fragments when hybridized to genomic DNA from unrelated individuals. These 14 unique probes provide useful tools for studying the structure and function of human chromosome 21 as well as for investigating the molecular biology of Down syndrome.