Polymorphism of B-tropic leukemia viruses from BALB/c mice: association of a p30 antigen with N- versus B-tropism

Molecular biology of Friend viral erythroleukemia

Friend virus clearly provides an important model for understanding the molecular biology of cancer. Moreover, the most important aspects of the erythroleukemia can be caused by a single SFFV infection in the absence of any helper virus. The SFFV env gene encodes a membrane glycoprotein, gp55. This glycoprotein, when expressed on erythroblast surfaces, causes a constitutive mitogenesis. However, SFFV infections only rarely increase the cell's self-renewal capability or abrogate its commitment to differentiate. Therefore, the consequence of infection is initially a polyclonal erythroblastosis. This polyclonal proliferation usually leads to cell differentiation and to recovery unless helper virus is present to cause continuing infection of new erythroblasts. Extremely rare SFFV proviral integrations, however, result in abrogation of the cell's commitment to differentiate and in the concomitant acquisition of cell immortality. These immortalizing proviral integrations occur at only a small number of sites in the mouse genome. Therefore, the mitogenic and immortalizing stages of erythroleukemia are now known to be caused by discrete genetic events--the first involving the SFFV env gene and the second involving the rare proviral integration sites. In early investigations of Friend virus, the first stage always preceded the second stage by at least several weeks. Now it is known that this delay in onset of the second stage is caused solely by statistics. Every SFFV-infected erythroblast is mitogenically activated, yet only rarely does the SFFV proviral integration produce immortality. Both steps in leukemogenesis can be caused simultaneously in an erythroblast by a rare single SFFV proviral integration. There has been an explosion of interest in retroviral env gene-mediated pathogenesis. Such pathogenesis has been recently associated with most of the naturally transmitted retroviral diseases including AIDS. Such pathogenesis involves in different viruses immunosuppression, anemia, neuropathy, and leukemia (Mathes et al. 1978; Simon et al. 1984, 1987; Weiss et al. 1985; Lifson et al. 1986; Riedel et al. 1986; Sitbon et al. 1986; Sodroski et al. 1986; Mitani et al. 1987; Schmidt et al. 1987; Klase et al. 1988; Overbaugh et al. 1988a, b). The shuffling and dynamic env gene rearrangements that have been associated with murine retroviral leukemogenesis have also now been seen in FeLV-FAIDS and HIV (Fisher et al. 1988; Overbaugh et al. 1 t88b; Saag et al. 1988; Tersmette et al. 1988). Friend virus provides an important established example of such env gene pathogenesis. Although we still do not understand precisely how gp55 causes erythroblast mitosis, workers in this field have discovered important clues that may lead to answers.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Physical mapping of the Fv-1 tropism host range determinant of BALB/c murine leukemia viruses

The murine leukemia viruses (MuLVs) have different host ranges and were originally designated N-tropic and B-tropic if they replicated preferentially in vitro on NIH and BALB/c fibroblasts, respectively. It was later found that N-tropic MuLVs were in fact restricted in BALB/c cells, that B-tropic MuLVs were restricted in NIH cells, and that both viruses were restricted in (BALB X NIH) F1 cells. A single gene, Fv-1, with two alleles, Fv-1b and Fv-1n, determines this dominant restriction. A virus-encoded protein seems to carry the viral host range determinant which is recognized by the Fv-1 gene product. To map the viral DNA sequences encoding this determinant, we constructed viral DNA recombinants in vitro between the cloned infectious viral DNA genomes from BALB/c N-tropic and B-tropic MuLVs. Infectious recombinant MuLVs were recovered by microinjecting these recombinant DNAs into murine Fv-1- SC-1 cells and were subsequently tested in vitro for their host ranges (N- or B-tropic). We found that a short 302-base pair 5'-end fragment was necessary and sufficient to confer a specific host range to a recombinant. Our sequencing data revealed that this fragment codes for amino acid sequences in gag p30. They also showed that only two consecutive amino acid differences, Gln-ArgN- and Thr-GluB-, in p30 are responsible for the N- and B-tropic host ranges of the BALB/c MuLVs, respectively. Therefore, it appears that the Fv-1b and Fv-1n gene products can discriminate between these two p30 amino acid sequences.

Ecotropic MuLV expression in radiation-induced lymphomas of the RF, BALB/c and (BALB/c X RF)F1 mouse strains

Endogenous ecotropic viruses isolated from radiation-induced lymphomatous tissue of BALB/c mice have been shown to consist of a collection of variants as assayed by the mobility of virion structural proteins p30, p15, p12 and gp70 on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) (Ellis et al., 1980 a). In this study we show that a similar phenomenon occurs in RF mice, but only with regard to p15 and gp70, and not p30 and p12. Using the distinct and unvarying mobility of the RF viral p12 protein on SDS-PAGE as a marker, we show that the RF-derived ecotropic murine leukemia virus (MuLV) is expressed to the exclusion of the BALB/c-derived ecotropic MuLV in F1 hybrid mice of the BALB/c X RF cross, and that variant viruses expressed in F1 radiation-induced lymphomatous tissue display the pattern of variation characteristic of the RF, and not of the BALB/c, strain.

Biochemical analysis of the p30's of N-, B-, and B leads to NB-tropic murine leukemia viruses of BALB/c origin

Previous analysis of the virion proteins of an N- and a B-tropic type C virus of BALB/c mice, of 16 N-tropic recombinants (XLPN viruses) between these viruses, and of eight NB-tropic viruses derived from the B-tropic virus suggested that among these closely related viruses N-, B-, or NB-tropism was associated with the electrophoretic mobility of p30 on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels, and thus that p30 might determine this phenotype. To obtain further evidence for the association of structural markers of p30 with N-, B-, or NB-tropism, we have analyzed the p30's of these same viruses by using two-dimensional tryptic peptide mapping and slab gel isoelectric focusing. The results of these analyses suggest that (i) a single peptide unique to the N-tropic virus p30- is present in the p30 of all N-tropic recombinants; (ii) a single peptide unique to the B virus p30 is not present in p30's of the N-tropic recombinants, and this peptide is also absent in p30's of NB-tropic viruses derived from the B-tropic virus; and (iii) p30's of NB-tropic viruses possess a new tryptic peptide not found in the p30 of their B-tropic virus progenitors, and this new peptide is not found in the p30 of the N-tropic virus of BALB/c or the XLPN viruses. These results are consistent with the possibility that p30 may determine the N-, B-, or NB-tropism of murine leukemia viruses. In addition, these studies indicate that some of the N-tropic recombinants have experienced recombination within the p30 gene.

BALB/c myeloma retroviruses: peptide mapping and immunological analysis of the pp12 structural protein

We have compared the pp12 structural protein of the MO-21 and FL-1 BALB/c myeloma retroviruses with the pp12 of several prototype retroviruses. Chymotryptic peptide maps of 125I-labeled, immune-precipitated pp12 proteins revealed that the MO-21 and FL-1 proteins can be distinguished from one another. The MO-21 pp12 most closely resembled the NIH-xenotrophic virus pp12, and the FL-1 pp12 most closely resembled the pp12 of BV-2 and WN 1802 B. Competition radioimmunoassay studies showed that the MO-21 and FL-1 pp12 proteins are also antigenically distinct from one another and that both contain pp12 antigenic determinants of a xenotropic virus. These data support our proposal that these two BALB/c viruses contain a gag gene that was generated by recombination between endogenous eco- and xenotropic viral sequences.

Viral genes involved in leukemogenesis. I. Generation of recombinants between oncogenic and nononcogenic mouse type-C viruses in tissue culture

An approach toward elucidation of the mechanisms of action of mammalian leukemia viruses has been made by the generation in tissue culture of recombinant viruses between a potent murine leukemia virus (MuLV), Rauscher-MuLV, and an endogenous xenotropic mouse type-C virus, BALB:virus-2, without known malignant potential. Using a double selection system devised to select against the temperature-sensitive (ts) lesion associated with a mutant of Rauscher-MuLV and the xenotropic host range of BALB:virus-2, recombinant viruses were obtained at frequencies ranging from 0.01 to 0.1%. Recombinant viruses were identified on the basis of the type specific antigenic determinants in the translational products of gag (p15, p12, p30, and p10 proteins), pol (reverse transcriptase), and env (gp70 glycoprotein) genes. By this approach, the partial genetic maps of a large number of recombinants were obtained. The fact that p10 of Rauscher-MuLV ts 25, the mutant utilized, was the only protein uniformly lacking in recombinant viruses, localized the lesion inhibiting gag precursor cleavage in this mutant at the carboxy terminus of its gag gene. The recombinant viruses demonstrated two host range phenotypes as defined by Fv-1 host cell restriction. In each case, NB-tropic recombinants possessed the p30 of BALB:virus-2 p30. Thus, it was possible to assign the site of Fv-1 action at, or closely linked, to the viral p30. The target within the viral genome of a second host restriction was also mapped. A serum factor, previously shown to specifically inactivate xenotropic virus infectivity, was demonstrated to exert its action on the viral env gene product. The system described here allows the generation of specific recombinant genotypes that should be useful in defining those regions of the viral genome involved in leukemogenesis.

Biochemical analysis of murine leukemia viruses isolated from radiation-induced leukemias of strain BALB/c

Murine leukemia viruses isolated from radiation-induced BALB/c leukemias were characterized with respect to viral proteins and RNA. Analysis by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the viral structural proteins revealed that for p12, p15, p30, and gp70, three of four electrophoretic variants of each could be detected. There was no correlation found between any of these mobilities and N- or B-tropism of the viruses. Proteins of all xenotropic viral isolates were identical in their gel electrophoretic profiles. The similar phenotypes of multiple viral clones from individual leukemias and of isolates grown in different cells suggest that the polymorphism of ecotropic viruses was generated in vivo rather than during in vitro virus growth. By two-dimensional fingerprinting of RNase T1-resistant oligonucleotides from 70S viral DNA, the previously reported association of N- and B-tropism with two distinct oligonucleotides was confirmed. The presence of two other oligonucleotides was correlated with positive and negative phenotypes of the virus-coded GIX cell surface antigen. The RNAs of two B-tropic isolates with distinctive p15 and p12 phenotypes differed from the RNA of a prototype N-tropic virus by the absence of three oligonucleotides mapping in the 5' portion (gag region) of the prototype RNA. In addition, one small-plaque B-tropic virus displayed extensive changes in the RNA sequences associated with the env region of the prototype.

Detection of polymorphism in BALB/c leukemia viruses with mouse antisera

Antisera produced in mice recognize primarily type-specific antigenic determinants on both the major core protein, p30, and the major envelope proteins, gp70 and p15(E), of the endogenous leukemia viruses (MuLV) of BALB/c mice. Three different mouse sera were investigated in detail. (i) Antisera prepared in C57BL/6 mice against the AKR leukemia K36 reacted with the gp70, p15(E), and p30 proteins of MuLV. Certain pools of the C57BL/6 anti-AKR K36 serum contained antibodies which serologically distinguished the p30 proteins of N-ecotropic, B-ecotropic, and xenotropic BALB/c MuLV. (ii) Antisera prepared in BALB/c mice against the BALB/c sarcoma 1315 contained antibodies that reacted with a type-specific antigen of the 1315 MuLV gp70 that is not found on other BALB/c MuLV. (iii) The normal sera of multiparous BALB/c mice contained antibodies that reacted with gp70 and p15(E) proteins of ecotropic MuLV. Sera from some of these mice contained antibodies that serologically distinguished the gp70 of N-ecotropic and B-ecotropic BALB/c viruses. These results emphasize the utility of mouse antisera in the serological typing of MuLV. Furthermore, the antigenic differences observed in the p30 and gp70 proteins should be of particular use in the future analysis of recombinant BALB/c MuLV.