AtT20 pituitary tumour cells contain mouse mammary tumour virus and intracisternal A-type particles in addition to murine leukemia virus.

By electron microscopy and immunocytochemistry we have examined the retroviruses endogenous to AtT20 D16V cells, a cloned line of murine pituitary tumour cells. In addition to the C-type retrovirus particles related to Rauscher murine leukemia virus (MuLV) previously reported to bud from these cells we observed cytoplasmic A-type particles and intracisternal A-type particles (IAP). In the cytoplasm the A-type particles occur in large clusters often associated with sheets of material with a fine structure resembling the shells of the particles. At the plasma membrane individual A-type particles bud to give rise to extracellular virions. The IAP are restricted to the rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) into which they bud: they are not transported out of the RER to the Golgi apparatus and beyond. We describe a new monoclonal antibody (designated 83E7) which is specific for an epitope of the major core protein (MTVp27) of mouse mammary tumour virus (MMTV). Using immunogold labelling procedures we have specifically labelled both the A-type particles and the associated sheets of material with this antibody. We conclude that the A-type particles and the virions they give rise to are MMTV. The sheets of material must also at least in part be made up of the major core protein of MMTV or its precursor polypeptide. AtT20 cells, therefore, contain endogenous MuLV and MMTV as well as IAP.

Quantitative separation of murine leukemia virus proteins by reversed-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography reveals newly described gag and env cleavage products.

The structural proteins of murine type C retroviruses are proteolytic cleavage products of two different precursor polyproteins coded by the viral gag and env genes. To further investigate the nature and number of proteolytic cleavages involved in virus maturation, we quantitatively isolated the structural proteins of the Rauscher and Moloney strains of type C murine leukemia virus (R-MuLV and M-MuLV, respectively) by reversed-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography. Proteins and polypeptides isolated from R-MuLV included p10, p12, p15, p30, p15(E), gp69, and gp71 and three previously undescribed virus components designated here as p10', p2(E), and p2(E). Homologous proteins and polypeptides were isolated from M-MuLV. Complete or partial amino acid sequences of all the proteins listed above were either determined in this study or were available in previous reports from this laboratory. These data were compared with those from the translation of the M-MuLV proviral DNA sequence (Shinnick et al., Nature [London] 293:543-548, 1981) to determine the exact nature of proteolytic cleavages for all the structural proteins described above and to determine the origin of p10' and p2(E)s. The results showed that, during proteolytic processing of gp80env from M-MuLV (M-gp 80env), a single Arg residue was excised between gp70 and p15(E) and a single peptide bond was cleaved between p15(E) and p2(E). The structure of M-gPr80env is gp70-(Arg)-p15(E)-p2(E). The data suggest that proteolytic cleavage sites in R-gp85env are identical to corresponding cleavage sites in M-gp80env. The p2(E)s are shown to be different genetic variants of p2(E) present in the uncloned-virus preparations. The data for R- and M-p10's shows that they are cleavage products of the gag precursor with the structure p10-Thr-Leu-Asp-Asp-OH. The complete structure of Pr65gag is p15-p12-p30-p10'. Stoichiometries of the gag and env cleavage products in mature R- and M-MuLV were determined. In each virus, gag cleavage products (p15, p12, p30, and p10 plus p10') were found in equimolar amounts and p15(E)s were equimolar with p2(E)s. The stoichiometry of gag to env cleavage products was 4:1. These data are consistent with the proposal that proteolytic processing of precursor polyproteins occurs after virus assembly and that the C-terminal portion of Pr15(E) [i.e., p15(E)-p2(E)] is located on the inner side of the lipid bilayer of the virus.

Murine leukaemia virus p30 heterogeneity as revealed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis is not an artefact of the technique.

We have utilized two-dimensional (2D) gel electrophoresis [the first dimension being a linear pH gradient (5 to 8) and the second and 8 to 15% acrylamide gradient] to characterize the virion protein, p30, from several strains of purified murine leukaemia virus (MuLV). In all cases, we found that there was a predominant (70 to 90%) Coomassie Brilliant Blue-staining p30 spot, as well as several other species which differed in pI. The major p30 spot differed in pI among different MuLV strains and the minor spots varied depending on the host cell used to grow the virus. Specifically, (i) Moloney (M)-MuLV/NIH-3T3 showed two spots, a major one at pI 6.3 and a more acidic one, (ii) AKR/NIH-3T3, AKR/mouse embryo, and Gross/NIH-3T3 showed four spots, with the two basic, minor spots of AKR/NIH-3T3 appearing relatively decreased in intensity, and (iii) Rauscher (R)-MuLV/JLS-V9 (BALB/c) showed two spots, a major one with greater than 90% of the estimated Coomassie Brilliant Blue stain at a pI of 6.5 and a minor, acidic one. The major spots of AKR and M-MuLV viruses also differed in pI. The major spot of the AKR and Gross N-tropic viruses had a pI of 6.7 while that of NB-tropic virus M-MuLV had a pI of 6.3. The possibility that the heterogeneity observed in p30 was an artefact of the 2D gel technique had to be considered since urea was used to denature proteins in the first dimension of the gel. This possibility was made unlikely by our finding that another technique, chromatofocusing, gave the same results. Specifically, M-MuLV/JLS-V9 p30, when separated on chromatofocusing columns under non-denaturing conditions yielded three peaks, each of which directly corresponded to the three spots (pI: 6.1, 6.3, 6.6) observed on 2D gels. Furthermore, tryptic peptide maps of the major (pI 6.3) and one of the minor (pI 6.6) M-MuLV spots, although very similar in peptide composition, showed about five clearly defined differences. These results indicate (i) that the p30s of several N- and NB-tropic viruses are heterogeneous in pI, and (ii) for one particular MuLV, the p30 heterogeneity can be explained by a difference in amino acid composition. These findings of p30 charge heterogeneity may reflect either the presence of several different p30s in each virus particle and/or a heterogeneity in the virus population.

Further studies on the glycosylated gag gene products of Rauscher murine leukemia virus: identification of an N-terminal 45,000-dalton cleavage product.

A glycosylated 45,000-Mr protein containing Rauscher murine leukemia virus p15 and p12 antigenic sites and tryptic peptides was identified in Rauscher murine leukemia virus-infected cells. This glycoprotein, termed gP45gag, was also shown to contain a single tryptic peptide also present in gPr80gag and its unglycosylated apoprotein precursor Pr75gag, but lacking in Pr65gag or Pr40gag. The presence of this peptide only in viral precursor proteins containing the so-called leader (L) sequence strongly suggests that gPr45gag is an N-terminal fragment of larger glycosylated gag polyproteins, composed of L sequences in addition to p15 and p12. The kinetics of appearance of radiolabeled gPr45gag and its disappearance during chase-incubation is suggestive of a precursor-like role for this intermediate gene product. An observed 27,000-Mr glycosylated polypeptide, termed gP27gag and containing p15 but not p12, p30, or p10 antigenic determinants, is a candidate cleavage product derived from gPr45gag. These observations suggest that gPr45gag and its putative cleavage product gP27gag represent an authentic pathway for intracellular processing of glycosylated core proteins.

Biological, chemical, and immunological studies of Rauscher ecotropic and mink cell focus-forming viruses from JLS-V9 cells.

Two murine leukemia viruses were isolated from JLS-V9 cells which had been infected with Rauscher plasma virus. One virus was XC positive and failed to grow on mink or cat cells and thus was an ecotropic virus. The other virus formed cytopathic foci on mink cells, was XC negative, and fell into the mink cell focus-forming (MCF) viral interference group and was thus an MCF virus. The glycoproteins of the two viruses could be distinguished immunologically, by peptide mapping, and by size in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The MCF virus produced gp69, and the ecotropic virus produced gp71, explaining the origin of the heterogeneous glycoprotein (gp69 and gp71) of Rauscher leukemia virus. Amino-terminal sequences of gp69 and gp71 were determined. The MCF sequence was distinct from the ecotropic sequence, but retained partial homology to it. The data show that the glycoproteins are encoded by related yet distinct genes. The protein structural data support the proposal that MCF virus gp70 molecules have nonecotropic sequences at the amino terminus, with ecotropic sequences occurring at the 3' end of the gene. The Rauscher MCF virus glycoprotein lacks a glycosylation site found at position 12 of the ecotropic sequence.

Glycoproteins of friend murine leukemia virus: separation and NH2-terminal amino acid sequences of gp69 and gp71.

The NH2-terminal amino acid sequences (initial 23 residues) of Friend murine leukemia virus gp71 and gp69 were determined and found to be different but highly related. Friend murine leukemia virus gp71 differed from Rauscher murine leukemia virus gp70 in only one position. Friend murine leukemia virus gp69 showed approximately 41% homology to these glycoproteins but lacked the glycosylation site (sequon) occurring at position 12 in Rauscher murine leukemia virus gp70.

Characterization of glycosaminoglycans associated with Rauscher murine leukemia virions.

Host-derived sulfated components that copurify and are physically associated with the envelope of Rauscher murine leukemia virions grown in JLS-V9 cells were characterized by digestion with chondroitinase ABC and chondroitinase AC II, as well as nitrous acid degradation. A dermatan-sulfate-chondroitin-sulfate copolymer and heparin or heparan sulfate wee shown to be associated with the virions. Competitive binding studies indicated a specificity of the virions for association with heparan sulfate. The physiological importance of the association is discussed.

Primary structure of the low molecular weight nucleic acid-binding proteins of murine leukemia viruses.

Murine leukemia viruses contain a low molecular weight basic protein, designated p10, which binds to single-stranded nucleic acids. The complete amino acid sequence of p10 from the Rauscher strain of virus has been determined. The partial amino acid sequences of p10s from Moloney, Friend, AKR, Gross, radiation leukemia, and BALB/2 viral strains have also been determined using microsequencing techniques. Rauscher p10 is composed of 56 amino acid residues; the other p10s are similar in size but differ from Rauscher by a few conservative amino acid substitutions. The structure of Rauscher p10 was compared to the structure of a functionally homologous protein from Rous avian sarcoma virus. The comparison revealed regions of amino acid sequence homologies which indicate a phylogenetic relationship between the murine and avian viral strains. The analyses revealed a periodic placement of three Cys residues and a Gly-His sequence. A structure involving these residues is found once in the murine protein and twice in the avian protein. A similar structure is seen in the single stranded nucleic acid binding protein of bacteriophage T4. However, in the latter case, the order of amino acid residues is inverted.

Structure of glycosylated and unglycosylated gag polyproteins of Rauscher murine leukemia virus: carbohydrate attachment sites.

The structural relationships among the gag polyproteins Pr65gag, Pr75gag, and gPr80gag of Rauscher murine leukemia virus were studied by endoglycosidase H digestion and formic acid cleavage. Fragments were identified by precipitation with specific antisera to constituent virion structural proteins followed by one-dimensional mapping. Endoglycosidase H reduced the size of gPr80gag to that of Pr75gag. By comparing fragments of gPr80gag and the apoprotein Pr75gag, the former was shown to contain two mannose-rich oligosaccharide units. By comparing fragments of Pr65gag and Pr75gag, the latter was shown to differ from Pr65gag at the amino terminus by the presence of a leader peptide approximately 7,000 daltons in size. The internal and carboxyl-terminal peptides of the two unglycosylated polyproteins were not detectably different. The location of the two N-linked carbohydrate chains in gPr80gag has been specified. One occurs in the carboxyl-terminal half of the polyprotein at asparagine177 of the p30 sequence and the other is found in a 23,000-dalton fragment located in the amino-terminal region of gPr80gag and containing the additional amino acid sequences not found in Pr65gag plus a substantial portion of p15.

Analysis of the origin of charge heterogeneity of Rauscher murine leukaemia virus p30.

Preparations of the 30 X 10(3) mol. wt. protein (p30) of Rauscher murine leukaemia virus (R-MuLV) which had been purified to homogeneity as judged by gel electrophoresis in the presence of SDS and by amino-terminal amino acid analysis, showed considerable isoelectric heterogeneity. It was found that R-MuLV p30 polypeptide chains are easily converted in vitro into chains with more acidic isoelectric points. R-MuLV p30 polypeptides with different isoelectric points displayed the same set of 125I-labelled tryptic peptides. It is concluded that the charge heterogeneity of R-MuLV p30, as revealed in isoelectric focusing experiments, is not caused by genetic heterogeneity of the virus genome but by post-translational modification.

Simple affinity procedure for the purification of mammalian viral reverse transcriptases.

Polyguanylic acid was found to be a potent inhibitor of RNase H associated with mammalian viral reverse transcriptase, indicating a strong interaction between polyguanylic acid and the reverse transcriptase protein. Based on this observation, we have developed three simple procedures for the purification of mammalian viral reverse transcriptases. In the first procedure, a nucleic acid-free extract of Rauscher murine leukemia virus was applied to a column of phosphocellulose and the reverse transcriptase was eluted by a low concentration (50 microM) of polyguanylic acid. Polyadenylic acid and polyuridylic acid could not replace polyguanylic acid for the elution. In the second procedure, a polyuridylic acid-Sepharose column was substituted for phosphocellulose, and the elution was again achieved by polyguanylic acid. In the third affinity procedure, the reverse transcriptase in a nucleic acid-free viral extract was incubated in the cold with 50 microM polyguanylic acid and the complex was adsorbed onto a DEAE-cellulose column. After washing to remove uncomplexed and weakly complexed proteins, the reverse transcriptase was eluted in a concentrated form at 0.3 M NaCl with a recovery of greater than 70%. by polyacrylamide gel analysis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate, the enzyme appeared to be nearly pure.

Conserved sequence related to the 3'-terminal region of retrovirus RNA'S In normal cellular DNAs.

The nucleotide sequences related to the 3'-terminal protion of retrovirus genomic RNA have been detected in the DNA of animals, including humans. The DNA complementary to the 400 to 700 nucleotides from the 3'-terminal end of retrovirus RNA (cDNA3'), which contains the enriched conserved region, was hybridized with DNA from a variety of animal cells. Under the conditions of annealing in 0.72 M NaCl at 67 degrees C and hydroxyapatite chromatography at 55 degrees C, 20 to 50% of the radioactivity of the cDNA3' prepared from two retroviruses, a murine Rauscher virus (RLV) and a baboon virus (M7), annealed with normal cellular DNA of animals, including human tissue. The thermal denaturation profile revealed considerable mismatching between the duplex of the cDNA3' and human DNA, cDNA3' of retroviruses is most homologous to cellular DNA of the host species of origin and is less homologous to cellular DNA of species that are distant in the phylogeny of the host species. The conservation and evolution of nucleotide sequences related to the 3' end of retrovirus genomes in animal DNAs, including humans, suggest that the sequences may have important functions.

Differential association of transfer RNAs with the genomes of murine, feline and primate retroviruses.

The tRNAs that are bound to the genomic RNAs of several murine, feline, and primate retroviruses have been identified. Transfer RNAs were divided into those loosely bound and those tightly bound by stepwise thermal dissociation of the 70 S RNA. They were then identified and semiquantitated by aminoacylation. Proline tRNA is the most tenaciously bound tRNA in several strains of murine leukemia virus, two strains of feline leukemia virus, and the primate viruses simian sarcoma, baboon endogenous, and gibbon ape lymphoma. In the feline xenotropic virus, RD-114, tRNAGly is enriched in the most tightly bound fraction. In Mason-Pfizer monkey virus, as in the murine mammary tumor virus, tRNALys is the tRNA most tenaciously bound to its genomic RNA. Besides the most tightly associated tRNA, one or more different tRNAs are found in relatively large amounts in association with the 70 S RNA. (For convenience, we refer to the largest RNA ccomplex (50-70 S) isolated from any of the retroviruses studies as '70 S' RNA.) These tRNAs can be distinguished from the most tightly bound tRNA by the fact that they can be dissociated at lower temperatures. However, they occur in the same relative abundance as the tightly bound tRNA.

The structural relatedness of the virus core proteins of Rauscher and Moloney murine leukaemia virus.

The virus core proteins p30, p15, pp12 and p10 of Rauscher (R-MuLV) and Moloney murine leukaemia virus (Mo-MuLV) were purified. Two-dimensional peptide maps of 3H-leucine-containing tryptic peptides as well as elution profiles from ion-exchange chromatography of tryptic peptides derived from 3H-tyrosine-labelled R-MuLV core proteins and 14C-tyrosine-labelled Mo-MuLV core proteins were compared. The results show that the p30 and p10 proteins are very similar but that p15 and pp12 exhibit significant differences.

Effect of interferon on mouse leukaemia virus (MuLV). V. Abnormal proteins in virions of Rauscher MuLV produced in the presence of interferon.

Interferon treatment of JLSV-6 cells chronically infected with Rauscher MuLV leads to the formation of non-infectious particles ('interferon' virions) containing the structural proteins coded by the env and gag genes as well as additional virus polypeptides. The major glycoprotein detected in the control virions is gp71, but 'interferon' virions contain in addition an 85K mol. wt. (gp85) glucosamine-containing, fucose-deficient glycoprotein. This is recognized by antiserum to MuLV and may be related to env pr85. Surface iodination of intact virions indicates that gp71 and gp85 are the two major components of the external envelope. However, whereas in control virions gp71 associates with p15E (gp90), this complex was not detected in 'interferon' virions. Analysis of radio-labelled (3H-amino acids or iodinated) proteins from disrupted 'interferon' virions revealed the presence of 65K, 55K, 40K, 20K and 12K mol. wt. polypeptides which could be precipitated with antiserum against MuLV. There was a distinct difference in the patterns of incorporation of pulse-labelled 3H-amino acid polypeptides into virions in the presence and absence of interferon. Those polypeptides labelled in the presence of interferon and recovered in the extracellular virions in a chase with interferon appeared to have substantially fewer copies of p30 and more of gag pr55 polypeptide than the controls. These results indicate that in the presence of interferon there are changes in the proteolytic cleavage associated with virion assembly.