title: Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 pX-I and pX-II open reading frames are dispensable for the immortalization of primary lymphocytes.
abstract: Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) infects and transforms CD4+ T-lymphocytes both in vivo and in vitro. Although the Tax protein of HTLV-1 has been strongly implicated as a transforming agent, other virally encoded proteins may also play a role in the transformation process. In addition to the rex and tax genes, the pX region of the HTLV-1 genome contains two open reading frames (pX-I and pX-II) which encode the putative viral accessory proteins known as p12I, p30II, and p13II. Mutations in the ACH molecular clone of HTLV-1 that are predicted to abrogate the expression of p12I, p13II and p30II were constructed. These mutations had no effect on viral replication or the immortalization of primary lymphocytes. Although these proteins are dispensable for viral replication and immortalization in vitro, it remains possible that they alter infection in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, USA.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Robek
authors.forename: F H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ratner
mesh_terms: D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016355:Genes, pX; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D009856:Oncogene Proteins, Viral / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D016366:Open Reading Frames; D012191:Retroviridae Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000821:virology*; D014157:Transcription Factors; D054334:Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins
chemical_list: D009856:Oncogene Proteins, Viral; D012191:Retroviridae Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D054334:Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins; C084305:p12I protein, Human T-lymphotropic virus 1; C072813:rof protein, Human T-lymphotropic virus 1; C072814:tof protein, Human T-lymphotropic virus 1