Abelson murine leukemia virus mutants with alterations in the virus-specific P120 molecule

J Virol. 1980 Jan;33(1):340-8. doi: 10.1128/JVI.33.1.340-348.1980.

Abstract

Abelson murine leukemia virus (A-MuLV) is a replication-defective virus that transforms both fibroblasts and hematopoietic cells in vitro. The virus encodes a 120,000-molecular-weight protein (P120) that is composed of Moloney murine leukemia virus-derived gag gene sequences and A-MuLV--specific sequences. This protein is the only A-MuLV--encoded protein that has been detected, and thus P120 is a candidate for the transforming protein of A-MuLV. We now report isolation and characterization of three new A-MuLV isolates that do not synthesize P120 but do produce analogous proteins of larger (160,000 molecular weight) and smaller (100,000 and 90,000 molecular weight) size. All of these A-MuLV isolates transform fibroblasts and lymphoid cells in vitro. Because the different A-MuLV proteins vary in the A-MuLV--specific region of the molecule, these variants may set a maximum limit on the size of the A-MuLV transforming protein.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Abelson murine leukemia virus / analysis
  • Abelson murine leukemia virus / genetics*
  • Animals
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic
  • Cell Transformation, Viral
  • Leukemia Virus, Murine / genetics*
  • Mice
  • Molecular Weight
  • Mutation*
  • Rats
  • Viral Proteins / analysis
  • Viral Proteins / genetics*

Substances

  • Viral Proteins