Preliminary report on the presence of RNA-dependent DNA polymerase in canine milk.
Milk from a variety of species has been shown to contain retroviruses, the causative agents of certain neoplastic diseases. A fundamental characteristic of the retrovirus is the presence of an RNA-dependent DNA polymerase (reverse transcriptase). Milk from 80 clinically normal beagle bitches was examined for this enzyme and significant activity was detected in milk from seven animals.
D000818:Animals; D002474:Cell-Free System; D002500:Centrifugation, Isopycnic; D004253:DNA Nucleotidylexotransferase / Q000378:metabolism; D004285:Dogs / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008892:Milk / Q000201:enzymology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000378:metabolism*
D004253:DNA Nucleotidylexotransferase; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase