Analysis of the env gene of a molecularly cloned and biologically active Moloney mink cell focus-forming proviral DNA.
A biologically active molecular clone of BALB/Moloney mink cell focus-forming (Mo-MCF) proviral DNA has been reconstructed in vitro. It contains the 5' half of BALB/Moloney murine leukemia virus (Mo-MuLV) DNA and the 3' half of BALB/Mo-MCF DNA. The complete nucleotide sequence of the env gene and the 3' long terminal repeat (LTR) of the cloned Mo-MCF DNA has been determined and compared with the sequence of the corresponding region of parental Mo-MuLV DNA. The substitution in the Mo-MCF DNA encompasses 1,159 base pairs, beginning in the carboxyl terminus of the pol gene and extending to the middle of the env gene. The Mo-MCF env gene product is predicted to be 29 amino acids shorter than the parental Mo-MuLV env gene product. The portion of the env gene encoding the p15E peptide is identical in both viral DNAs. There is an additional A residue in the Mo-MCF viral DNA in a region just preceding the 3' LTR. The nucleotide sequence of the 3' LTR of Mo-MCF DNA is similar to that of the 5' LTR of BALB/Mo-MuLV DNA with the exception of two single base substitutions. We conclude that the sequence substitution in the env gene is responsible for the dual-tropic properties of Mo-MCF viruses.
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D005796:Genes; D005814:Genes, Viral; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C / Q000235:genetics; D008979:Moloney murine leukemia virus / Q000235:genetics*; D009692:Nucleic Acid Heteroduplexes; D010455:Peptides / Q000235:genetics; D021382:Protein Sorting Signals; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D012091:Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
D009692:Nucleic Acid Heteroduplexes; D010455:Peptides; D021382:Protein Sorting Signals; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins