Absence of mouse mammary tumor virus proviral amplification in chemically induced lymphomas of RF/J mice.
RF/J mice are susceptible to the induction of thymic lymphomas by the carcinogens 3-methylcholanthrene and N-methyl-N-nitrosourea. Given the association of mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) with certain thymomas, we examined genomic DNA from chemically induced lymphomas of RF/J mice for new MMTV proviruses. Of 13 tissue culture lines derived from 3-methylcholanthrene-induced tumors, 5 had acquired new proviruses. MMTV amplification coincided with the appearance of viral mRNAs and proteins. However, no primary tumors or animal-passaged tumors contained new proviruses. These observations indicate that MMTV does not have a role in the tumor induction process, although it may become activated and amplified in tissue culture lines derived from tumors.
Kraft
R
R
Department of Molecular Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York 10461.
Ishizaka
S T
ST
Okenquist
S A
SA
Childs
G
G
Lilly
F
F
Lenz
J
J
D000818:Animals; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005784:Gene Amplification; D015329:Gene Rearrangement, T-Lymphocyte; D005814:Genes, Viral; D008099:Liver / Q000032:analysis; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000382:microbiology*; D008324:Mammary Tumor Virus, Mouse / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008748:Methylcholanthrene; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000235:genetics
D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D008748:Methylcholanthrene; D004247:DNA