Transcription of 70S RNA by DNA polymerases from mammalian RNA viruses.

DNA polymerases purified by the same procedure from four mammalian RNA viruses, simian sarcoma virus type 1, gibbon ape lymphoma virus, Mason-Pfizer monkey virus, and Rauscher murine leukemia virus are capable of transcribing heteropolymeric regions of viral 70S RNA without any other primer. In this reconstituted system the enzymes from simian sarcoma virus type 1, Mason-Pfizer monkey virus, and Rauscher murine leukemia virus transcribe viral 70S RNA almost as efficiently as the DNA polymerase from the avian myeloblastosis virus, but gibbon ape lymphoma virus DNA polymerase is approximately three-to fivefold less efficient. Although there is a substantial difference among the sizes of these DNA polymerases (160,000 daltons for the avian myeloblastosis virus enzyme, 110,000 daltons for the Mason-Pfizer monkey virus enzyme, and 70,000 daltons for the mammalian type C viral polymerases), the ability to transcribe viral 70S RNA is a characteristic common to these enzymes.     

Polyamines stimulate DNA-directed DNA synthesis catalyzed by mammalian type C retroviral DNA polymerases

In the presence of optimal concentrations of Mg2+, rates of activated (gapped) DNA-directed DNA synthesis by purified mammalian type C retroviral DNA polymerases are stimulated greater than 10-fold by the polyamines spermine and spermidine. Such stimulation was not observed using either similar concentrations of the polyamines cadaverine or putrescine or exogenously provided salt or ammonium ions. Avian type C as well as mammalian type B and type D retroviral DNA polymerases, in contrast to the mammalian type C enzyme, were found to be relatively insensitive to spermine and spermidine stimulation. Kinetic analysis of the polyamine stimulation of activated DNA-directed DNA synthesis carried out using spermine and purified Rauscher leukemia virus DNA polymerase revealed at least two distinct mechanisms of activation of DNA synthesis. 1) At DNA concentrations below 2.5 micrograms/ml, spermine appears to interact with the enzyme-DNA complex in order to stimulate synthesis. 2) At DNA concentrations above 2.5 micrograms/ml, increased spermine stimulation is observed which appears to be due to its direct interaction with the activated DNA template resulting in either selective limitation of the formation of "dead-end" enzyme-DNA complexes or its ability to convert such nonproductive enzyme binding sites into productive sites for the initiation of synthetic activity. The addition of spermine to reaction mixtures was found to increase both the apparent Km and Vmax of the activated (gapped) DNA-directed reaction with regard to template concentration.     

Purification and characterization of gibbon ape leukemia virus DNA polymerase.

An RNA directed DNA polymerase was purified over 2500 fold from gibbon ape leukemia virus by successive column chromatography on Sephadex G100, DEAE cellulose, phosphocellulose and hydroxyapatite. The purified DNA polymerase has a molecular weight of 68 000, a pH optimum of 7.5, a Mn2+ optimum of 0.8 mM, and KCl optimum of 80 mM. The purified enzyme transcribes heteropolymeric regions of viral 60-70 S RNA isolated from avian myeloblastosis virus, Rauscher murine leukemia virus and simian sarcoma virus and it is inhibited by antiserum prepared against either gibbon ape leukemia virus or simian sarcoma virus DNA polymerases.     

Characterization of an RNA-directed DNA-polymerase from a cell line derived from a radiation-induced lymphoma in mice.

An RNA-directed DNA polymerase was purified from a cell line derived from a radiation-induced lymphoma in NIH Swiss mice which produced non-infectious type C virus particles. The enzyme was isolated from a high speed particulate fraction which bands at a density of 1.16--1.19 g/ml in a sucrose gradient, and purified by successive chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, phosphocellulose and hydroxyapatite. The purified DNA polymerase has a molecular weight of 68 000, a pH optimum of 7.5, a KCl optimum of 50 mM, and a Mn2+ optimum of 0.25 mM. It prefers (dT)15 . (A)n to (dT)15 . (dA)n as the primer template and transcribes the poly(C) strand of (dG)15 .(C)n and (dG)15 . (OMeC)n. It transcribes heteropolymeric regions of avian myeloblastosis virus 70 S RNA, and is inhibited by antiserum to Rauscher murine leukemia virus DNA polymerase. Comparison of the properties of DNA polymerase purified from radiation-induced lymphoma cells with the DNA polymerase purified from non-defective murine type C RNA tumor viruses shows that the mouse lymphoma enzyme is both biochemically and immunologically related to murine leukemia virus DNA polymerases.     

Specific antigenic relationships between the RNA-dependent DNA polymerases of avian reticuloendotheliosis viruses and mammalian type C retroviruses

Immunoglobulin G directed against the DNA polymerase of Rauscher murine leukemia virus (R-MuLV) could bind to 125I-labeled DNA polymerase of spleen necrosis virus (SNV), a member of the reticuloendotheliosis virus (REV) species. Competition radioimmunoassays showed the specificity of this cross-reaction. The antigenic determinants common to SNV and R-MuLV DNA polymerases were shared completely by the DNA polymerases of Gross MuLV, Moloney MuLV, RD 114 virus, REV-T, and duck infectious anemia virus. Baboon endogenous virus and chicken syncytial virus competed partially for antibodies directed against the common antigenic determinants of SNV and R-MuLV DNA polymerases. DNA polymerases of avian leukosis viruses, pheasant viruses, and mammalian type B and D retroviruses and particles with RNA-dependent DNA polymerase activity from the allantoic fluid of normal chicken eggs and from the medium of a goose cell culture did not compete for the antibodies directed against the common antigenic determinants of SNV and R-MuLV DNA polymerases. We also present data about a factor in normal mammalian immunoglobulin G that specifically inhibits the DNA polymerases of REV and mammalian type C retrovirus DNA polymerases.     

Purification, Characterization, and Comparison of the DNA Polymerases from Two Primate RNA Tumor Viruses

The DNA polymerase from the Mason-Pfizer monkey virus (M-PMV), an RNA tumor virus not typical type-C or type-B, has been purified a thousand-fold over the original crude viral suspension. This purified enzyme is compared to a similarly purified DNA polymerase from the primate woolly monkey virus, a type-C virus. The two enzymes have similar template specificities but differ in their requirements for optimum activity. Both DNA polymerases have a pH optimum of 7.3 in Tris buffer. M-PMV enzyme has maximum activity with 5 mM Mg(2+) and 40 mM potassium chloride, whereas the woolly monkey virus optima are 100 mM potassium chloride with 0.8 mM Mn(2+). The apparent molecular weight of the M-PMV enzyme is approximately 110,000, whereas the woolly monkey virus polymerase is approximately 70,000. The biochemical properties of these two enzymes were also compared to a similarly purified enzyme from a type-C virus from a lower mammal (Rauscher murine leukemia virus). The results show that more similarity exists between the DNA polymerases from viruses of the same type (type-C), than between the polymerases from viruses of different types but from closely related species.     

Inhibitors acting on Nucleic Acid Synthesis in an Oncogenic RNA Virus

IN infection with an oncogenic RNA virus, synthesis of viral RNA seems to be catalysed by an RNA dependent DNA polymerase in the host cell^1–4. Several specific inhibitors of viral DNA polymerases have been found^5–7 and Spiegelman⁸ has shown that the activity of viral enzymes depends strongly on the chemical composition of the template. We report here first a new highly specific poison of the Rauscher murine leukaemia virus (RMLV) DNA polymerases; second, several inactivators of the RNA and DNA template involved in the RMLV enzyme systems; and third, the action of actinomycin D on viral DNA polymerases and on host DNA/RNA polymerase. The results are discussed with respect to the influence of actinomycin D on virus multiplication.     

DNA Polymerase in Virions of a Reptilian Type C Virus

A study was made of the DNA polymerase of reptilian type C virus isolated from Russell's viper spleen cells. Simultaneous detection experiments demonstrated the presence of 70S RNA and RNA-dependent DNA polymerase activity in reptilian type C virions. The endogenous activity was dependent on the addition of all four deoxynucleotide triphosphates and demonstrated an absolute requirement for a divalent cation. The reptilian viral DNA polymerase elutes from phosphocellulose at 0.22 M salt. In this respect, it is similar to the avian (avian myeloblastosis virus; AMV) viral enzyme but is different from the mammalian (Rauscher leukemia virus; RLV) viral enzyme which elutes at 0.4 M salt. The molecular weight of the viper DNA polymerase as estimated from glycerol gradient centrifugation is 109,000. It is a smaller enzyme than the AMV DNA polymerase (180,000 daltons) and somewhat larger than the RLV enzyme (70,000 daltons). A comparison of other properties of the type C reptilian DNA polymerase with the enzyme found in other type C oncogenic viruses is made.     

Specific Inhibition of Mammalian Ribonucleic Acid C-Type Virus Deoxyribonucleic Acid Polymerases by Rat Antisera

Inhibition of the ribonucleic acid (RNA)- and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)-dependent DNA polymerase activities of mammalian C-type viruses was obtained with sera from rats bearing murine leukemia virus-induced transplant tumors. Polymerase activities of nonmammalian (viper) C-type virus and murine mammary tumor virus were not inhibited by such sera nor by serum from a rat immunized with the DNA polymerase of feline leukemia virus purified by isoelectric focusing. The latter serum appeared to inhibit preferentially the DNA-dependent DNA polymerase activity of mammalian C-type viruses showing no inhibition of RNA-dependent DNA synthesis.     

RNA-dependent DNA polymerase of an endogenous type C virus of mice: purification and partial characterization

An RNA-dependent DNA polymerase was isolated from purified virions of endogenous oncornaviruses released by the MOPC-315 murine myeloma cell line. Upon sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, the purified enzyme was found to consist of two major polypeptides with molecular weights of about 28,000 and 26,500. The active enzyme had a molecular weight of approximately 56,000, as calculated from its sedimentation on glycerol density gradients, indicating that it is probably a dimer of the two subunit polypeptides. The isolated MOPC-315 virus polymerase exhibited all three activities known to be found in the DNA polymerase from oncornaviruses, namely, an RNA-dependent DNA polymerase, a DNA-dependent DNA polymerase, and an RNase H. The RNA-dependent polymerase activity showed a prounced preference for Mn2+ over Mg2+, whereas the DNA-dependent and RNase H reactions were catalyzed by these two cations to an almost equal extent. The purified polymerase was found to be immunologically related to the polymerase of Rauscher murine leukemia virus.