Inhibitor of the DNA-dependent DNA Polymerase of Some RNA Tumour Viruses in Feline Sera

AN inhibitor of the RNA-dependent DNA polymerases^1,2 of mammalian C-type viruses was found in sera from rats bearing transplantable tumours, induced by murine C-type RNA tumour viruses^3,4. Partially purified polymerases of murine leukaemia virus³ and feline leukaemia virus (FeLV)⁴ were shown to be antigenic in rabbits and a rat, respectively. We have detected an inhibitor of the DNA-dependent DNA polymerase^5,6 of feline and murine C-type viruses in the sera of cats inoculated in utero and/or postnatally with the Gardner-Arnstein strain of feline sarcoma virus (FSV)⁷ and in the sera of cats bearing spontaneous sarcomas, lymphomas or carcinomas.     

Ribonuclease H: a Ubiquitous Activity in Virions of Ribonucleic Acid Tumor Viruses

Ten ribonucleic acid (RNA) tumor viruses grown in five different host cell species and three non-oncogenic viruses from three different virus groups have been examined for ribonuclease H content. Three different substrates were used to assay ribonuclease H: calf thymus [(3)H]RNA-deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) hybrid prepared with denatured calf thymus DNA and Escherichia coli DNA-directed RNA polymerase, (3)H-polydenylic acid [(3)H-poly(A)] complexed to polydeoxythymidylic acid [poly(dT)], and (3)H-polyuridylic acid [(3)H-poly(U)] complexed to polydeoxyadenylic acid [poly(dA)]. All ten RNA tumor viruses contained ribonuclease H activity which degraded the RNA of both the calf thymus hybrid and poly(A)-poly(dT), whereas only the ribonuclease H in the Moloney strain of murine sarcoma-leukemia virus and in RD-feline leukemia virus hydrolyzed the RNA strand of poly(U)-poly(dA). No appreciable ribonuclease H activity was detected in influenza, Sendai, or vesicular stomatitis virus. The ribonuclease H and RNA-directed DNA polymerase activities in Moloney murine sarcoma-leukemia virus were inseparable by phosphocellulose chromatography or glycerol gradient centrifugation, but appeared to be partially separated by diethylaminoethyl-cellulose chromatography.     

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.     

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.     

Modified Radioimmunoassay for Murine Sarcoma-Leukemia Virus Group-Specific Antigen

Iodination of disrupted Moloney strain murine sarcoma-leukemia virus resulted in labeled group-specific (gs) protein which was subsequently purified on an isoelectrofocusing column. This iodinated purified gs antigen, prepared from a relatively small quantity of purified virus, was used in a radioimmunoassay. A radioimmunoassay inhibition method was developed so that antibody specific for mammalian C-type gs antigen could be measured in undiluted or low dilutions of test serum without altering the known reagents of the test. The gs antigen isolated from purified Moloney strain murine sarcoma-leukemia virus has an isoelectric point (pH 5.95) which is significantly lower than that reported for other murine leukemia viruses.     

Template specificities of the RNA dependent DNA polymerase of different murine C-type virus particles.

The crude RNA dependent DNA polymerase of seven different C-type viruses (AMV, Kirsten-MSV produced by NRK or $\text{NIH}\text{3T3}$ cells, Moloney-MuLV, Kirsten-MuLV, the murine myeloma associated virus (MuMAV) from FLOPC-1 and MOPC-21) was analyzed for their ability to utilize four different synthetic $\text{RNA}\text{DNA}$ hybrids or three different $\text{DNA}\text{DNA}$ duplexes as templates. The polymerases from AMV and murine sarcoma or leukemia viruses were distinctly different in their template stimulated activities and the two MuMAV polymerases were different from all of the other enzymes. MuMAV RDDPs were not stimulated by any of the synthetic $\text{RNA}\text{DNA}$ hybrid templates to the same level as the enzymes of the other C-type viruses and their ability to distinguish between templates was also different.     

Basolateral maturation of retroviruses in polarized epithelial cells.

We have investigated the maturation sites of avian and mammalian C-type retroviruses in polarized epithelial cells. Examination of thin sections of Madin Darby canine kidney cells infected with RD114 or avian reticuloendotheliosis virus revealed that these viruses mature from the basolateral membrane domains. Similar results were obtained with a continuous line of mouse mammary epithelial cells infected with Friend, Moloney, Rauscher, or Kirsten murine leukemia viruses, or Friend virus-related or Moloney virus-related mink cell focus-forming viruses. Immunofluorescence observations indicate that viral glycoproteins are inserted only at the basolateral membranes in these cells. Because of the availability of DNA and protein sequence data, and of molecularly cloned viruses, these virus systems offer advantages for molecular studies on directional transport of plasma membrane glycoproteins.     

Serological Analysis of the Deoxyribonucleic Acid Polymerase of Avian Oncornaviruses II. Comparison of Avian Deoxyribonucleic Acid Polymerases

Monospecific antiserum prepared against the isolated deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) polymerase of avian myeloblastosis virus (AMV) neutralized the endogenous ribonucleic acid-instructed DNA polymerase activity of detergent-disrupted virus. The viral polymerase was serologically unrelated to the seven major structural polypeptides of AMV. Furthermore, the viral enzyme was distinguished from normal cellular DNA polymerases by serological criteria; thus, antiserum against the viral enzyme neutralized its homologous antigen but not normal cellular DNA polymerases. Neutralization by antibody of viral DNA polymerase activity was observed with all avian leukemia-sarcoma viruses tested, irrespective of viral antigenic subtype. The DNA polymerase activity of avian reticuloendotheliosis virus, and of a variety of mammalian oncornaviruses, was not neutralized by antisera against the AMV polymerase. Immunological analysis of the RSValpha(O) mutant, which is deficient in DNA polymerase activity, shows this mutant to lack demonstrable polymerase antigen. Viral polymerase was identified by immunofluorescence as a cytoplasmic constituent in virus-producing chicken cells; polymerase antigen was not detected in uninfected (gs(-)) chicken cells.     

Studies on the Nucleic Acid Sequences of Kirsten Sarcoma Virus: a Model for Formation of a Mammalian RNA-Containing Sarcoma Virus

The genetic information contained in the Kirsten and Moloney strains of mammalian RNA-containing sarcoma viruses has been analyzed by RNA . (3)H-DNA hybridization. Kirsten sarcoma virus has been found to possess two distinct sets of nucleic acid sequences. One set of sequences is contained in murine type C helper virus, and the other set is contained in rat type C helper virus. Moloney sarcoma virus contains sequences of murine type C helper virus but not of rat type C helper virus. The results indicate that Kirsten sarcoma virus arose through a process of recombination between Kirsten murine leukemia virus and nucleic acid sequences found in rat cells. A model is suggested for the formation of transforming type C viruses involving the transduction of oncogenic information.     

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.     

RNase H and RNA-directed DNA polymerase: associated enzymatic activities of murine mammary tumor virus.

The RNA-directed DNA polymerase of murine mammary tumor virus, a type B RNA tumor virus, was purified sequentially through DEAE-cellulose, phosphocellulose (step gradient), and phosphocellulose (linear salt gradient) chromatography followed by glycerol sedimentation centrifugation. During all stages of purification, coincident peaks of RNA-directed DNA polymerase activity, templated by polyribocytidylate-oligodeoxyguanidylate, and RNase H digestion of [3H]polyriboadenylate-polydeoxythymidylate were observed, and both enzymatic activities displayed a cation preference for magnesium. Under conditions that removed adventitiously associated nucleases, RNase H activity was found to co-purify with polymerase. The specificity of this nuclease was assayed with various prepared substrates, which indicated that the polymerase-associated RNase H activity was directed only against the RNA strand of an RNA-DNA hybrid. It is highly probable that RNase H (RNA-DNA hybrid: ribonucleotide-hydrolase, EC 3.1.4..34) and RNA-directed DNA polymerase of type B viruses are associated enzymatic activities analogous to those observed for avian and mammalian type C RNA tumor viruses.     

Nucleic Acid Homology of Murine Type-C Viral Genes

The nucleic acid sequence homology between various murine, endogenous type-C viruses (three host range classes of BALB/c virus, the AT-124 virus, and the CCL 52 virus) and two laboratory strains of murine leukemia virus (Rauscher and Kirsten) was determined by DNA:RNA hybridization. The viral sequences exhibit varying degrees of partial homology. DNA:DNA hybridizations were performed between [³H]DNA probes prepared from N- and X-tropic BALB/c endogenous viruses and cellular DNAs from BALB/c, NIH Swiss, and AKR inbred mouse strains as well as from California feral mice and the Asian mouse subspecies Mus musculus molossinus and M. musculus castaneus. All of these strains of mice are shown to possess multiple (six to seven per haploid genome), partially related copies of type-C virogenes in their DNAs. Thermal melting profiles of the DNA:RNA and DNA:DNA hybrids suggest that the partial homology of the viral nucleic acid sequences is the result of base alterations throughout the viral genomes, rather than the loss of discrete segments of viral sequences.     

Biochemical properties of the bromodeoxyuridine-induced guinea pig virus.

The biophysical and biochemical properties of the virus particles released by guinea pig embryo cells treated with 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BUdR) have been compared to those of the B-type mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) and the C-type Rauscher murine leukemia virus. The high-molecular-weight (60 to 70S) RNA of the BUdR-induced guinea pig virus (GPV) has a molecular weight of 8 X 106 when measred by mixed agarose polyacylamide gel electrophoresis. The virus particles isolated from the tissue culture medium of BUdR-induced guniea pig cells have the following properties in common with MMTV: (i) a buoyant density of 1.18 g/ml in sucrose and 1.21 g/ml in CsCl, and (ii) a DNA polymerase that prefers Mg2+ over Mn2+ in an assay using the synthetic template poly(rC):oligo(dG). No nucleic acid sequence homology between GPV RNA and the viral RNAs of the MMTV, murine leukemia virus, hamster sarcoma virus, or Mason-Pfizer monkey virus could be observed in a competition hybridization assay using the radioactive-labeled GPV 60 to 70S RNA. By this same competition by hybridization assay the frequency of GPV proviral sequences was estimated to be at least 83 per haploid cellular genome of guniea pig cells. No nucleic acid sequences related to be GPV RNA were detected in the DNA of normal tissues of mice, rats, cats, dogs, baboons, or humans by direct RNA-DNA hybridization using radioactive GPV60 to 70S RNA.