Identification of a novel gene, Vin-1, in murine leukemia virus-induced T-cell leukemias by provirus insertional mutagenesis.
The BL/VL3 radiation leukemia virus is a nondefective retrovirus which induces clonal or oligoclonal T-cell leukemia in mice. To study the role of provirus insertional mutagenesis in the development of these neoplasias, we searched for common provirus integration sites in BL/VL3 radiation leukemia virus-induced tumors. Using cellular sequences flanking a provirus cloned from one of these thymomas, we found that the viral genome was integrated into a common region, designated Vin-1, in a low percentage (5%) of these tumors. The proviruses found in this locus were integrated in the same orientation, close to a CpG-rich island, at proximity of a transcriptional unit encoding a 6-kb RNA. Vin-1 RNA was detected in several organs of the adult mouse. Vin-1 RNA levels were high in tumors having a provirus inserted within the Vin-1 region but were also high in some other tumors whose Vin-1 region was not found to be rearranged. Vin-1 was found to be well conserved among mammalian species and was mapped to mouse chromosome 6, between raf and K-ras-2. Vin-1 appears to be a novel gene which may be involved in tumor development.
Tremblay
P J
PJ
Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institut de Recherches Cliniques de Montréal, Québec, Canada.
Kozak
C A
CA
Jolicoeur
P
P
D000818:Animals; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics*; D015870:Gene Expression; D052138:Genes, Neoplasm; D008040:Genetic Linkage; D007942:Leukemia, Experimental / Q000235:genetics*; D051379:Mice; D008979:Moloney murine leukemia virus; D011533:Proviruses / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D016721:Radiation Leukemia Virus; D051381:Rats; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D013045:Species Specificity; D016662:Virus Integration
D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D012333:RNA, Messenger