Endogenous retrovirus expression in stimulated murine lymphocytes. Identification of a new locus controlling mitogen induction of a defective virus.
Germ line DNA from all strains of mice contains numerous endogenous retroviruses. One of these viruses, a virus with xenotropic host range is induced from lymphocytes of most strains by treatment with B cell mitogens. Virus induction is amplified by 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) treatment. We report here studies of the genetic control of retrovirus induction from lymphocytes in crosses between BALB/cTif mice and noninducible 129/Rrj mice. We identify a novel locus, Bdv-1, which controls the expression of a reverse transcriptase-positive, defective retrovirus in BALB/cTif lymphocytes. In addition, we confirm previous reports that xenotropic virus is controlled by a locus, Bxv-1, mapping to chromosome 1. The two loci are nonlinked and respond differently to inducing stimuli. Bxv-1 is induced mainly by BrdU and only marginally by mitogen; in contrast, Bdv-1 is induced by mitogen and BrdU has little effect. The induction of these two loci is discussed with respect to B cell differentiation.
D000818:Animals; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine / Q000494:pharmacology; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D005260:Female; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000378:metabolism; D012190:Retroviridae / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D012192:Retroviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology; D014775:Virus Activation
D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine