Proviral DNA of a retrovirus, human T-cell leukemia virus, in two patients with AIDS

The acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is characterized by T-lymphocyte dysfunction and is frequently accompanied by opportunistic infections and Kaposi's sarcoma. Human T-cell leukemia virus (HTLV) is associated with T-cell malignancies and can transform T lymphocytes in vitro. In an attempt to find evidence of HTLV infection in patients with AIDS, DNA from samples of peripheral blood lymphocytes from 33 AIDS patients was analyzed by Southern blot-hybridization with a radiolabeled cloned HTLV DNA probe. Analysis of DNA from both the fresh (uncultured) lymphocytes and from T cells cultured with T-cell growth factor revealed the presence of integrated HTLV proviral sequences in lymphocytes from two of the patients, both of whom had antibody to HTLV. The proviral sequences could not be detected in blood samples obtained from these individuals at a later date, consistent with the possibility that the population of infected cells had become depleted.     

Novel viral sequences related to human T-cell leukemia virus in T cells of a seropositive baboon

Antibodies reactive with proteins of human T-cell leukemia virus (HTLV) can be found in Old World monkeys. A T-lymphocyte cell line established from a seropositive baboon (Papio cynocephalus) was analyzed for the presence of viral DNA sequences. The provirus found in these cells was related to but distinct from HTLV subgroup I. These results add to recent evidence from human studies that HTLV represents a spectrum of infectious T-lymphotropic retroviruses that includes closely and distantly related members.     

HTLV x-gene product: requirement for the env methionine initiation codon

The human T-cell leukemia viruses (HTLV) are replication-competent retroviruses whose genomes contain gag, pol, and env genes as well as a fourth gene, termed x, which is believed to be the transforming gene of HTLV. The product of the x gene is now shown to be encoded by a 2.1-kilobase messenger RNA derived by splicing of at least two introns. By means of S1 nuclease mapping of this RNA and nucleic acid sequence analysis of a complementary DNA clone, the complete primary structure of the x-gene product has been determined. It is encoded by sequences containing the env initiation codon and one nucleotide of the next codon spliced to the major open reading frame of the HTLV-I and HTLV-II x gene.     

Antigens on HTLV-infected cells recognized by leukemia and AIDS sera are related to HTLV viral glycoprotein

Cross-reactive antigens of molecular size of 61,000 to 68,000 daltons are found on the surface of human cells infected by human T-cell leukemia-lymphoma virus (HTLV). They are recognized by antibodies from patients with adult T-cell leukemias and lymphomas, from healthy carriers of HTLV, and from patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The latter finding has been one of the major reasons for suggesting an association of HTLV with AIDS. However, whether these antigens are of cellular or viral origin has not been clear. These antigens have now been shown to be associated with the presence of viral proteins in the cells, and a cross-reactive glycoprotein of molecular size of 46,000 daltons has been found to be a consistent structural part of viruses purified from several HTLV-producer cell lines. The findings thus suggest a viral (HTLV) origin of these antigens.     

Identification of a putative regulator of early T cell activation genes

Molecules involved in the antigen receptor-dependent regulation of early T cell activation genes were investigated with the use of functional sequences of the T cell activation-specific enhancer of interleukin-2 (IL-2). One of these sequences forms a protein complex, NFAT-1, specifically with nuclear extracts of activated T cells. This complex appeared 10 to 25 minutes before the activation of the IL-2 gene. Studies with inhibitors of protein synthesis indicated that the time of synthesis of the activator of the IL-2 gene in Jurkat T cells corresponds to the time of appearance of NFAT-1. NFAT-1, or a very similar protein, bound functional sequences of the long terminal repeat (LTR) of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1; the LTR of this virus is known to be stimulated during early T cell activation. The binding site for this complex activated a linked promoter after transfection into antigen receptor-activated T cells but not other cell types. These characteristics suggest that NFAT-1 transmits signals initiated at the T cell antigen receptor.     

Bovine leukemia virus long terminal repeat: a cell type-specific promoter

The functional activity of the promoter unit contained within the long terminal repeat (LTR) of bovine leukemia virus (BLV) was examined by monitoring transient expression of a heterologous gene placed under its control. Various cell lines were transfected with recombinant plasmids carrying the bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) gene coupled to the BLV LTR (pBL-cat). Transient expression of CAT activity directed by the BLV LTR was observed only in the established BLV-producer cell lines derived from fetal lamb kidney (FLK) cells and bat lung cells. The amount of CAT activity transiently expressed in FLK-BLV cells was decreased approximately tenfold by deletion of LTR sequences located within a region 100 to 170 nucleotides upstream of the RNA start site. Surprisingly, removal of the region 50 base pairs downstream of the RNA initiation site to the 3'-end of the LTR reduced the expression of CAT activity by 87 percent. The BLV LTR thus appears to be an unusual promoter unit, functioning in a cell type-specific manner and possessing sequences on both the 5' and 3' sides of the RNA start site that influence gene expression.     

Sequence of the envelope glycoprotein gene of type II human T lymphotropic virus

The sequence of the envelope glycoprotein gene of type II human T lymphotropic virus (HTLV) is presented. The predicted amino acid sequence is similar to that of the corresponding protein of HTLV type I, in that the proteins share the same amino acids at 336 of 488 residues, and 68 of the 152 differences are of a conservative nature. The overall structural similarity of these proteins provides an explanation for the antigenic cross-reactivity observed among diverse members of the HTLV retrovirus family by procedures that assay for the viral envelope glycoprotein, for example, membrane immunofluorescence.     

Distinctive termini characterize two families of human endogenous retroviral sequences

Human DNA contains many copies of endogenous retroviral sequences. Characterization of molecular clones of these structures reveals the existence of two related families. One family consists of full-length (8.8 kilobases) proviral structures, with typical long terminal repeates (LTR's). The other family consists of structures, which contain only 4.1 kilobases of gag-pol sequences, bounded by a tandem array of imperfect repeats 72 to 76 base pairs in length. Typical LTR sequences that exist as solitary elements in the genome were cloned and characterized.     

Characterization of a human TAR RNA-binding protein that activates the HIV-1 LTR

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) gene expression is activated by Tat, a virally encoded protein. Tat trans-activation requires viral (trans-activation--responsive; TAR) RNA sequences located in the R region of the long terminal repeat (LTR). Existing evidence suggests that Tat probably cooperates with cellular factors that bind to TAR RNA in the overall trans-activation process. A HeLa complementary DNA was isolated and characterized that encodes a TAR RNA-binding protein (TRBP). TRBP activated the HIV-1 LTR and was synergistic with Tat function.     

网状内皮组织增殖病病毒（REV）不同分离株LTR基因的序列分析

从山东，江苏的几个大型鸡场收集疑为REV感染的鸡脾脏，肝脏，提取组织DNA，并以此为模板，通过PCR技术，从山东泰安及江苏海安的某鸡场中分别扩增到REV的LTR基因，将该基因克隆进TA载体中，转化大肠杆菌TG1，经酶切鉴定，得到了两株REV LTR基因的克隆，标记为SD和HA，所将得克隆测序并与国外报道的REVLTR基因进行比较，发现国内分离株与国外株有94％以上的同源性。     

毛竹长末端重复序列反转录转座子的全基因组特征及进化分析

  目的   研究毛竹Phyllostachys edulis基因组中的长末端重复序列反转录转座子(long terminal repeat retrotransposons, LTR-REs)的特征,为今后利用LTR反转录转座子对毛竹基因组的功能和对竹种资源遗传多样性的研究奠定基础。   方法   通过生物信息学方法,利用LTRharvest和RepeatMakser软件对第2版毛竹基因组中的LTR反转录转座子进行全面注释与分类,并对得到的LTR反转录转座子的分布特征、进化特性和插入时间进行分析。   结果   在毛竹基因组中共注释得到1 014 565个LTR反转录转座子,1 562个家族,占毛竹基因组的54.97%。其中solo LTR反转录转座子与完整LTR反转录转座子(S/F)的比例较高(约1.77∶1.00),表明在毛竹LTR反转录转座子中可能发生了相对较高频率的非法重组和不平衡重组。毛竹LTR反转录转座子分为Ty1-copia和Ty3-gypsy超家族,Tork、Reftrofit、Sire、Oryco、Del、Reina、Crm、Tat、Galadriel、Athila等10个谱系。毛竹LTR反转录转座子的Ty1-copia和Ty3-gypsy超家族对PBS位点的偏好性呈相反趋势,较长的LTR反转录转座子具有更长的LTR序列,结构也更加完整。毛竹LTR反转录转座子的插入时间主要集中在0~2.0 Ma,且还处于不断缓慢增长的状态。   结论   第2版毛竹基因组的高质量组装,能更好地注释和分析毛竹基因组中的LTR反转录转座子。基于结构预测的LTRharvest法,能更精准地预测毛竹LTR反转录转座子。不同谱系的毛竹LTR反转录转座子在进化过程中具有不同的分化和扩增活性。毛竹LTR反转录转座子总体上处于不断扩增状态,这是导致毛竹基因组较大的主要原因之一。图3表3参52