Cloning and analysis of reverse transcript P160 genomes of Abelson murine leukemia virus

Gag influences transformation by Abelson murine leukemia virus and suppresses nuclear localization of the v-Abl protein

Like the v-Onc proteins encoded by many transforming retroviruses, the v-Abl protein is expressed as a Gag-Onc fusion. Although the Gag-derived myristoylation signal targets the v-Abl protein to the plasma membrane, the protein contains the entire MA and p12 sequences and a small number of CA-derived residues. To understand the role of Gag sequences in transformation, mutants lacking portions of these sequences were examined for the effects of these deletions on v-Abl function and localization. Deletion of the N-terminal third of p12 or all of p12 enhanced the transformation of both pre-B cells and NIH 3T3 cells. In contrast, deletions in MA or a deletion removing all of Gag except the first 34 amino acids important for myristoylation highly compromised the ability to transform either cell type. Although all of the mutant proteins retained kinase activity, those defective in transformation were reduced in their ability to activate Erk, suggesting a role for Gag sequences in v-Abl signaling. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed that a v-Abl protein retaining only the first 34 amino acids of Gag localized to the nucleus. These data indicate that Gag sequences are important for normal v-Abl signaling and that they suppress nuclear localization of the molecule.

The extreme carboxyl terminus of v-Abl is required for lymphoid cell transformation by Abelson virus

The v-Abl protein tyrosine kinase encoded by Abelson murine leukemia virus (Ab-MLV) induces transformation of pre-B cells in vivo and in vitro and can transform immortalized fibroblast cell lines in vitro. Although the kinase activity of the protein is required for these events, most previously studied mutants encoding truncated v-Abl proteins that lack the extreme carboxyl terminus retain high transforming capacity in NIH 3T3 cells but transform lymphocytes poorly. To understand the mechanisms responsible for poor lymphoid transformation, mutants expressing a v-Abl protein lacking portions of the COOH terminus were compared for their ability to transform pre-B cells. Although all mutants lacking sequences within the COOH terminus were compromised for lymphoid transformation, loss of amino acids in the central region of the COOH terminus, including those implicated in JAK interaction and DNA binding, decreased transformation twofold or less. In contrast, loss of the extreme COOH terminus rendered the protein unstable and led to rapid proteosome-mediated degradation, a feature that was more prominent when the protein was expressed in Ab-MLV-transformed lymphoid cells. These data indicate that the central portion of the COOH terminus is not essential for lymphoid transformation and reveal that one important function of the COOH terminus is to stabilize the v-Abl protein in lymphoid cells.

Transforming pathways activated by the v-Abl tyrosine kinase

The Abelson Murine Leukemia Virus (A-MuLV) is the acute transforming retrovirus encoding the v-abl oncogene. Two isolates of the virus encoding proteins of p120 Kd and 160 Kd have been extensively studied. These viral isolates have been found to transform both hematopoietic and fibroblastic cells in vitro, while inducing predominantly pre-B cell leukemias in vivo. Both p120(v-Abl) and p160(v-Abl) are plasma membrane-associated non-receptor tyrosine kinases and the transforming activity of these proteins requires their tyrosine kinase activity. A-MuLV infection of hematopoietic cells has often been found to result in the abrogation of their cytokine-dependence for growth. In addition, v-Abl expressing hematopoietic cells often lose their ability to differentiate in response to appropriate cytokines. This review discusses some of the early transformation studies of A-MuLV, as well as some of the findings concerning the structure and biochemical activity of the v-Abl protein. Finally, we discuss the mechanisms associated with v-Abl mediated transformation through examination of the various signal transduction pathways activated by this oncogene.

Factors involved in leukaemogenesis and haemopoiesis

This review describes the chromosomal abnormalities in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) which result in the over-expression of the gene SCL, which encodes a helix-loop-helix transcription factor. Also described are how gene targeting studies have revealed a key role for SCL in normal haemopoiesis. Next, the BCR-ABL fusion protein, seen in chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) and in some patients with ALL, is discussed. Finally, the involvement of members of the core-binding factor (CBF) gene family in leukaemogenesis are described. Members of this gene family are involved in the generation of fusion proteins as a result of t(8;21) and inv(16), the most common translocations associated with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). They provide a useful model of the way in which aberrant transcriptional function, brought about through genetic alterations, can modify haemopoietic development.

Temperature-sensitive mutants of Abelson murine leukemia virus deficient in protein tyrosine kinase activity

The effect of two missense mutations in abl on transformation by Abelson murine leukemia virus was evaluated. These mutations led to the substitution of a histidine for Tyr-590 and a glycine for Lys-536. Both changes gave rise to strains that were temperature dependent for transformation of both NIH 3T3 cells and lymphoid cells when expressed in the context of a truncated Abelson protein. In the context of the prototype P120 v-abl protein, the Gly-536 substitution generated a host range mutant that induced conditional transformation in lymphoid cells but had only a subtle effect on NIH 3T3 cells. The combination of both substitutions gave rise to a P120 strain that was temperature sensitive for both NIH 3T3 and lymphoid cell transformation. The Abelson proteins encoded by the temperature-sensitive strain displayed in vitro kinase activities that were reduced when compared with those of wild-type proteins. In vivo, levels of phosphotyrosine were reduced only at the restrictive temperature. Analysis of cells expressing either the wild-type P160 v-abl protein or the P210 bcr/abl protein and an Abelson protein encoded by a temperature-sensitive strain failed to correct this defect, suggesting either that tyrosine phosphorylation in vivo is an intramolecular reaction or that the protein encoded by the temperature-sensitive strain is a poor substrate for tyrosine phosphorylation in vivo. These results raise the possibility that tyrosine phosphorylation of Abelson protein plays a role in transformation.

Tyrosine kinase oncogenes abrogate interleukin-3 dependence of murine myeloid cells through signaling pathways involving c-myc: conditional regulation of c-myc transcription by temperature-sensitive v-abl

Retroviral expression vectors carrying the tyrosine kinase oncogenes abl, fms, src, and trk abrogate the requirements of murine myeloid FDC-P1 cells for interleukin-3 (IL-3). Factor-independent clones constitutively express c-myc in the absence of IL-3, whereas in parental cultures c-myc transcription requires the presence of the ligand. To directly test the effect of a tyrosine kinase oncogene on c-myc expression, retroviral constructs containing three different temperature-sensitive mutants of v-abl were introduced into myeloid IL-3-dependent FDC-P1 and 32D cells. At the permissive temperature, clones expressing temperature-sensitive abl behaved like wild-type abl-containing cells in their growth properties and expressed c-myc constitutively. Temperature shift experiments demonstrated that both IL-3 abrogation and the regulation of c-myc expression correlated with the presence of functional v-abl. Induction of c-myc expression by reactivation of temperature-sensitive v-abl mimicked c-myc induction by IL-3 in that it did not require protein synthesis and occurred at the level of transcription, with effects on both initiation and a transcription elongation block. However, v-abl-regulated FDC-P1 cell growth differed from IL-3-regulated growth in that c-fos and junB, which are normally induced by IL-3, were not induced by activation of v-abl.

Tyrosine kinase oncogenes abrogate interleukin-3 dependence of murine myeloid cells through signaling pathways involving c-myc: conditional regulation of c-myc transcription by temperature-sensitive v-abl

Retroviral expression vectors carrying the tyrosine kinase oncogenes abl, fms, src, and trk abrogate the requirements of murine myeloid FDC-P1 cells for interleukin-3 (IL-3). Factor-independent clones constitutively express c-myc in the absence of IL-3, whereas in parental cultures c-myc transcription requires the presence of the ligand. To directly test the effect of a tyrosine kinase oncogene on c-myc expression, retroviral constructs containing three different temperature-sensitive mutants of v-abl were introduced into myeloid IL-3-dependent FDC-P1 and 32D cells. At the permissive temperature, clones expressing temperature-sensitive abl behaved like wild-type abl-containing cells in their growth properties and expressed c-myc constitutively. Temperature shift experiments demonstrated that both IL-3 abrogation and the regulation of c-myc expression correlated with the presence of functional v-abl. Induction of c-myc expression by reactivation of temperature-sensitive v-abl mimicked c-myc induction by IL-3 in that it did not require protein synthesis and occurred at the level of transcription, with effects on both initiation and a transcription elongation block. However, v-abl-regulated FDC-P1 cell growth differed from IL-3-regulated growth in that c-fos and junB, which are normally induced by IL-3, were not induced by activation of v-abl.

Transformation of an interleukin 3-dependent hematopoietic cell line by the chronic myelogenous leukemia-specific P210bcr/abl protein

The P210bcr/abl protein is associated with virtually every case of human chronic myelogenous leukemia. Unlike the related P160gag/v-abl oncogene product of Abelson murine leukemia virus, P210bcr/abl does not transform NIH 3T3 fibroblasts. To assess whether P210bcr/abl might transform hematopoietic cell types, retroviral constructs encoding P210bcr/abl were used to infect the bone marrow-derived interleukin 3-dependent Ba/F3 cell line. As for P160gag/v-abl, cell lines expressing P210bcr/abl were growth factor independent and tumorigenic in nude mice. No evidence for autocrine production of interleukin 3 by factor-independent cell lines was found. These experiments establish that P210bcr/abl can transform hematopoietic cell types to tumorigenicity.

Isolation of temperature-sensitive Abelson virus mutants by site-directed mutagenesis

Mutants of Abelson virus encoding temperature-sensitive protein-tyrosine kinase (EC 2.7.1.112) were created by site-directed mutagenesis using sequence information from temperature-sensitive mutants of the related v-src oncogene. Expression of these two independent mutations in Escherichia coli resulted in reduced phosphorylation of the mutant proteins at high temperature. Viruses containing one of the mutations induced conditional transformation of both NIH 3T3 and lymphoid cells when expressed in the context of a truncated transforming protein. These results underscore the functional homology between protein-tyrosine kinases and suggest that transfer of mutations within a related gene family may provide a rapid method to create mutants.

The CML-specific P210 bcr/abl protein, unlike v-abl, does not transform NIH/3T3 fibroblasts

The v-abl oncogene of the Abelson murine leukemia virus (A-MuLV) is known to efficiently transform NIH/3T3 fibroblasts in vitro and to cause an acute lymphosarcoma in susceptible murine hosts. The role of its relative, the bcr/abl gene product, in the etiology of human chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) remains speculative. To assess the transforming properties of the bcr/abl gene product, complementary DNA clones encoding the CML-specific P210 bcr/abl protein were expressed in NIH/3T3 fibroblasts. In contrast to the v-abl oncogene product P160, the P210 bcr/abl gene product did not transform NIH/3T3 cells. Cell lines were isolated that expressed high levels of the P210 bcr/abl protein but were morphologically normal. During the course of these experiments, a transforming recombinant of bcr/abl was isolated which fuses gag determinants derived from helper virus to the NH2-terminus of the bcr/abl protein. This suggests that a property of viral gag sequences, probably myristylation-dependent membrane localization, must be provided to bcr/abl for it to transform fibroblasts.

Isolation of temperature-sensitive tyrosine kinase mutants of v-abl oncogene by screening with antibodies for phosphotyrosine

Temperature-sensitive protein-tyrosine kinase (EC 2.7.1.112) mutants of the oncogene v-abl have been obtained by a direct screening of kinase mutants in bacteria. The v-abl oncogene was expressed in Escherichia coli as a trpE/v-abl fusion protein from the trp promoter. The expression plasmid was mutagenized in vitro and then transfected into E. coli. Bacteria that produced defective tyrosine kinases were distinguished from those producing wild-type v-abl kinases by hybridization with antibodies specific for phosphotyrosine. Two independent mutations that generated temperature-sensitive tyrosine kinases were found to be located in a 12-amino acid region in the tyrosine kinase domain of the v-abl-encoded protein. These mutant v-abl oncogenes displayed temperature-sensitive transforming activity when expressed in NIH 3T3 cells. Cells transformed by these temperature-sensitive tyrosine kinase mutants could be shifted between the transformed and untransformed states by changing their growth temperature. These results confirmed the crucial role of tyrosine kinase activity in the v-abl-mediated oncogenesis.

Isolation of antibodies for phosphotyrosine by immunization with a v-abl oncogene-encoded protein

Immunization of rabbits with a tyrosine-phosphorylated v-abl protein resulted in the production of antibodies for the v-abl protein and for phosphotyrosine. The antiphosphotyrosine antibodies could be purified by affinity chromatography with O-phosphotyramine coupled to Sepharose. These antibodies detected a variety of tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins, including receptors for peptide growth factors. The usefulness of these antibodies was demonstrated by the detection of previously unidentified tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins in v-src-, v-abl-, and v-erbB-transformed cell lines.

Construction, analysis, and application to 46,XY gonadal dysgenesis of a recombinant phage DNA library from flow-sorted human Y chromosomes

The analysis of a recombinant human Y-enriched Hind III total digest phage library prepared from the DNA of flow sorted human Y chromosomes is described. Out of 43 phage inserts from the library thus far mapped, 25 revealed hybridization with Y chromosomal DNA. These inserts may be divided into five groups according to their degree of Y specific hybridization: inserts that hybridize with one single copy or slightly repeated Y-specific DNA sequence, Y-specific repeated sequences of various restriction fragment lengths, Y-chromosomal DNA sequence(s) shared by a sequence on the X and/or on autosomes, Y-specific DNA sequences in addition to multiple X and/or autosomal sequences, or Y-specific repeated DNA in addition to multiple X and/or autosomal sequences. Application of probes from this library for diagnostic purposes is shown in two 46,XY patients with gonadal dysgenesis and small deletions of the Y short arm.

Isolation of antibodies for phosphotyrosine by immunization with a v-abl oncogene-encoded protein

Immunization of rabbits with a tyrosine-phosphorylated v-abl protein resulted in the production of antibodies for the v-abl protein and for phosphotyrosine. The antiphosphotyrosine antibodies could be purified by affinity chromatography with O-phosphotyramine coupled to Sepharose. These antibodies detected a variety of tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins, including receptors for peptide growth factors. The usefulness of these antibodies was demonstrated by the detection of previously unidentified tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins in v-src-, v-abl-, and v-erbB-transformed cell lines.

The minimum transforming region of v-abl is the segment encoding protein-tyrosine kinase

Only 1.2 kilobases (kb) at the 5' end of the 3.9-kb v-abl sequence in Abelson murine leukemia virus is required for fibroblast transformation. A precise delineation of this minimum transforming region was made by using small 5' or 3' deletions. Insertions of four amino acids, generated by putting synthetic DNA linkers into various restriction enzyme cleavage sites, abolished transforming activity, indicating that much of the internal sequence of the minimum transforming region plays a critical role in the transformation process. This 5' 1.2 kb of v-abl encodes protein-tyrosine kinase activity when expressed in Escherichia coli. Each of the mutations which caused a loss of transformation activity also resulted in a loss of protein-tyrosine kinase activity when expressed in E. coli. The minimum transforming region of v-abl contains amino acid homology to other protein-tyrosine kinase oncogenes, and a comparison with these oncogenes is presented.

Expression of abl and other oncogenes is independent of metastatic potential in Abelson virus-transformed malignant murine large cell lymphoma

The role of oncogene expression in tumor metastasis was examined using the Abelson leukemia virus-transformed murine large cell lymphoma RAW117. Cell sublines of low and high metastatic potential expressed equally abl oncogene-coded mRNA and its phosphoprotein product p160, and the capacity of p160 to become autophosphorylated with gamma-[32P]ATP was the same among low and high metastatic cells. The expression of other oncogene-coded mRNAs (fos, myc, myb), if present, was also similar in low and high metastatic RAW117 cells. Although oncogene expression is thought to be important in initiating, and in some cases maintaining, the transformed phenotype, its expression in RAW117 lymphoma cells appears to be unrelated to metastatic phenotype.

Isolation of human chromosome 13-specific DNA sequences cloned from flow sorted chromosomes and potentially linked to the retinoblastoma locus

A recombinant DNA library has been constructed using flow sorted chromosome #13 DNA and the phage vector, Charon 21A. Roughly 90% of the phage inserts in the library hybridize to human repetitive DNA. Phage containing human nonrepetitive inserts have been screened for chromosome #13 specificity by Southern blot analysis using the genomic DNA of human-rodent cell hybrids containing different regions of the human #13 autosome. Of 18 phage inserts characterized, 13 have been assigned to the 13q12----q22 subregion, three appear to be localized in the 13pter----q12 region, and two are not #13-specific. By Southern blot analysis of the DNA of a retinoblastoma patient exhibiting a deletion of band 13q14 and of karyotypically normal individuals, two phage inserts have been putatively assigned to band 13q14, the currently accepted locus for a genetic determinant for retinoblastoma. These two DNA probes show quantitative differences in hybridization band intensity in the genomic DNA of the 13q--patient relative to that of the normals. In situ hybridization data support these conclusions. A recombinant phage library that shows an approximate 90% enrichment for human chromosome #13-specific DNA fragments should prove useful not only in studies related to retinoblastoma, but also in the molecular analysis of the structure and function of chromosome #13.

Activation of the c-myb locus by viral insertional mutagenesis in plasmacytoid lymphosarcomas

Rearrangement in the c-myb locus of each of four independently derived BALB/c plasmacytoid lymphosarcoma (ABPL's) is due to the insertion of a defective Moloney murine leukemia virus (M-MuLV) into a 1.5-kilobase-pair stretch of cellular DNA at the 5' end of the v-myb-related sequences. This retroviral insertion is associated with abnormal transcription of myb sequences and probably represents a step in the neoplastic transformation of ABPL cells.

A membrane-associated, carbohydrate-modified form of the v-abl protein that cannot be phosphorylated in vivo or in vitro

Abelson murine leukemia virus encodes a transforming protein which contains tyrosine kinase activity and is phosphorylated in vivo and in vitro. We found that P160 and P160-derived virus strains expressed an additional, altered v-abl protein which could not be phosphorylated. The altered v-abl protein (L-v-abl) differed from the phosphorylated form (K-v-abl) in that it was glycosylated and localized exclusively to the membrane fraction. Tunicamycin inhibition of N-linked carbohydrate addition did not restore phosphorylation. It did, however, reveal that L-v-abl had additional sequences relative to K-v-abl. The coding sequences required for this region and for the expression of L-v-abl were identified by replacing sequences in the P120 virus genome, which did not express L-v-abl, with sequences from the P160 virus genome. The necessary sequences were localized to the Moloney murine leukemia virus-derived gag gene. Comparison between the in vitro altered P120 and wild-type P120 virus strains indicated that expression of L-v-abl did not increase the efficiency of lymphoid transformation. Although the biological role of L-v-abl is not clear, our analyses have revealed that a specific amino terminal gag sequence can prevent v-abl from acting as a kinase substrate and can alter the cellular localization and modification of v-abl. These properties distinguish L-v-abl from previously reported v-abl proteins.

Only site-directed antibodies reactive with the highly conserved src-homologous region of the v-abl protein neutralize kinase activity

Antisera specific for six regions of the v- abl protein were used to serologically characterize the Abelson murine leukemia virus tyrosine kinase. Chemically synthesized peptides corresponding to the predicted v- abl protein sequence and larger regions of the v- abl protein expressed as fusion proteins in bacteria were used as immunogens. The specificity of each antiserum was confirmed by immunoprecipitation analysis with defined deletion mutants of Abelson murine leukemia virus. Several of these v- abl -specific antisera display much higher titers and avidities than serum harvested from mice bearing Abelson murine leukemia virus-induced tumors, previously the only source of anti- abl -specific serum. Two antisera were found to block the in vitro autophosphorylation of the v- abl protein as well as its ability to phosphorylate a peptide substrate. Examination of the sites against which the kinase-blocking antisera were prepared revealed that both are in close proximity to the in vivo sites of tyrosine phosphorylation, which fall within the region of high homology with v-src and other tyrosine kinases. Antisera directed against other regions of v- abl did not inhibit kinase activity.

The mouse c-abl locus: molecular cloning and characterization

The mouse c-abl gene, part of the sequence of which was captured in Moloney murine leukemia virus to generate the transforming gene (v-abl) of the Abelson murine leukemia virus, has been isolated and characterized. The c-abl locus spans 40 kb in the mouse genome with the v-abl homologies distributed in no less than ten clusters along 25 kb of the cloned DNA. Partial sequence of the v-abl homologous regions indicates that v-abl derived from c-abl mainly by splicing of multiple exons of the c-abl gene. The c-abl sequences can be subdivided into two regions: a tyrosine kinase coding sequence distributed among eight small clusters on the 5' end of the gene and a C-terminal portion consisting of one small and one large cluster, which are needed neither for the tyrosine kinase activity nor for the transforming ability of v-abl. Apparent exon/intron boundaries in the homologous kinase-coding regions of c-abl and c-src are at different locations.

Sequences of the A-MuLV protein needed for fibroblast and lymphoid cell transformation

The role of various segments (gag or v-abl) of the Abelson murine leukemia virus (A-MuLV) genome in both lymphoid cell and fibroblast transformation was examined by deletion of areas from cloned, plasmid DNA representations of the genome. The deleted plasmids were tested by transfection into fibroblasts and by infection of bone marrow cells using virus stocks derived from the fibroblast transfectants. Deletion of gag coding sequence from the A-MuLV protein did not affect fibroblast transforming activity but abolished lymphoid transforming activity. The gag- A-MuLV genomes were very unstable in transformed fibroblasts leading to large secondary deletions in v-abl sequences. The gag- A-MuLV proteins also had lower autophosphorylation than their gag+ counterparts although cells transformed by gag- virus had a normal elevation of protein-linked phosphotyrosine. Systematic deletion of v-abl sequences showed that only 45,000 to the 130,000 molecular weight of v-abl sequence in the A-MuLV protein is needed for fibroblast transformation and, at most, slightly more is needed for lymphoid cell transformation.

Cellular RNA homologous to the Abelson murine leukemia virus transforming gene: expression and relationship to the viral sequence

To examine the expression of the cellular homolog of the Abelson murine leukemia virus transforming gene (the v-abl sequence), a DNA probe representing the v-abl sequence was prepared. The probe detected two cytoplasmic polyadenylic acid-containing c-abl RNAs of about 6.5 and 5.5 kilobases in a variety of rodent cells, and slightly larger RNAs were detected in human cells. These two RNA species were found in all normal tissues or cell lines examined, but at differing concentrations: liver cells had the least, fibroblastic cell lines had the most. By using a probe able to detect the cellular but not the viral gene, the two RNAs were shown to be present in Abelson murine leukemia virus-transformed cells at levels found either in their untransformed counterparts or in similar cell types transformed by other means. The target cells of the virus have a somewhat elevated level of the two RNAs although expression of the c-abl gene is not restricted to these cells. The v-abl sequence lacks 0.35 and 0.85 kilobases of the c-abl RNA on the 5' and 3' ends, respectively. Thus, the Abelson murine leukemia virus transforming gene is an internal fragment of the transcript of a normal cellular gene.

The Hardy-Zuckerman 2-FeSV, a new feline retrovirus with oncogene homology to Abelson-MuLV

There is substantial evidence that oncogenes (v-onc) of acute transforming retroviruses have been acquired by transduction of cellular genes (c-onc) with retroviruses. Feline leukaemia virus (FeLV)-associated feline fibrosarcomas have proven to be extremely useful for the isolation of acute transforming retroviruses of a mammalian species. Three different v-onc genes have been identified in five acute transforming feline retroviruses. The Susan McDonough feline sarcoma virus (SMFeSV) contains the oncogene fms (ref. 4). The Snyder-Theilen (ST) and Gardner-Arnstein (GA) FeSVs contain the oncogene fes (ref. 4), which is homologous to the oncogene fps of the avian sarcoma viruses FSV, RRCII, PRCIV and 16L (refs 7, 8). The v-onc sequences of the Parodi-Irgens (PI) FeSV have recently been found to be homologous with the v-sis sequences of the simian sarcoma virus. We report here the isolation of another acute transforming feline retrovirus from a naturally occurring feline fibrosarcoma, designated the Hardy-Zuckerman 2 feline sarcoma virus (HZ2-FeSV) and demonstrate that the HZ2-FeSV and Abelson murine leukaemia virus (A-MuLV) have homologous oncogenes.

Cellular RNA homologous to the Abelson murine leukemia virus transforming gene: expression and relationship to the viral sequence

To examine the expression of the cellular homolog of the Abelson murine leukemia virus transforming gene (the v-abl sequence), a DNA probe representing the v-abl sequence was prepared. The probe detected two cytoplasmic polyadenylic acid-containing c-abl RNAs of about 6.5 and 5.5 kilobases in a variety of rodent cells, and slightly larger RNAs were detected in human cells. These two RNA species were found in all normal tissues or cell lines examined, but at differing concentrations: liver cells had the least, fibroblastic cell lines had the most. By using a probe able to detect the cellular but not the viral gene, the two RNAs were shown to be present in Abelson murine leukemia virus-transformed cells at levels found either in their untransformed counterparts or in similar cell types transformed by other means. The target cells of the virus have a somewhat elevated level of the two RNAs although expression of the c-abl gene is not restricted to these cells. The v-abl sequence lacks 0.35 and 0.85 kilobases of the c-abl RNA on the 5' and 3' ends, respectively. Thus, the Abelson murine leukemia virus transforming gene is an internal fragment of the transcript of a normal cellular gene.