Expression of a platelet-derived growth factor-like protein in simian sarcoma virus transformed cells

The near identity of the partial amino acid sequence of human platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and that predicted for p28sis, the putative transforming protein of the simian sarcoma virus (SSV), suggests expression of a growth factor activity may be central for transformation by SSV. It is now reported that SSV-transformed cells but not control cells contain a growth factor activity that is identical to PDGF in immunoassay, in mitogenic dose response, and in specific mitogenic activity. The protein immunoprecipitated by antiserum to human PDGF has an apparent molecular weight of 20,000, identical to that of p20sis, the putative intracellular degradation product of p28sis. The results support the concept that expression of a PDGF-like molecule, which appears to be the product of the viral-sis gene, is responsible for the abnormal regulation of growth is SSV-transformed cells.     

Viral infection across species barriers: reversible alteration of murine sarcoma virus for growth in cat cells

Infection of cat embryo cells by a centrifugally induced aggregate of murine sarcoma virus and feline leukemia virus gave rise to a defective, focus-forming virus which propagated in cat cells, but not in mouse cells. This virus, apparently enveloped with a feline leukemia virus coat, was later subjected to aggregation with murine leukemia virus, whereupon it regained the capacity for growth in mouse cells.     

Titration patterns of a murine sarcoma-leukemia virus complex: evidence for existence of competent sarcoma virions

Stocks of inurine sarcoma virus show titration patterns ranging from one-to two-hit kinetics. The comparison of various titrations of this virus, both with and without added helper virus, to theoretical model systems composed of defined constituents, suggests the existence of a sarcoma virus that does not need coinfectinig murine leukemia virus to be manifested as a focus-forming unit. The behavior of such nondefective particles is compatible with a postulated leukemia-sarcoma virus hybrid.     

Complete nucleotide sequence and organization of the Moloney murine sarcoma virus genome

The complete nucleotide sequence of a mammalian transforming retrovirus. Moloney murine sarcoma virus, has been determined. MSV, recombinant virus derived of helper viral and cellular sequences, possesses termini resembling prokaryotic transposable elements. The viral genome has the coding capacity for the Moloney murine leukemia virus gag gene product and contains large deletions in pol and env genes. A large open reading frame encompassing its cell-derived sequences codes for its putative transforming protein. The nature of some of the important domains in the viral genome has been established, and their structure is discussed in relation to their function.     

Nucleotide sequence of the p21 transforming protein of Harvey murine sarcoma virus

Harvey murine sarcoma virus is a retrovirus which transforms cells by means of a single virally encoded protein called p21 has. We have determined the nucleotide sequence of 1.0 kilobase in the 5' half of the viral genome which encompasses the has coding sequences and its associated regulatory signals. The nucleotide sequence has identified the amino acid sequence of two additional overlapping polypeptides which share their reading frames and the carboxyl termini with p21 but which contain additional NH2-terminal amino acids.     

Superinduction of endogenous type C virus by 5-bromodeoxyuridine from transformed mouse clones

Certain transformed subclones of the mouse cell line BALB/3T3 release 5 to 15 times more type C virus per cell than the parent cell line after treatment with 5-bromodeoxyuridine. Virus release begins within 8 hours and exponentially increases for the first 24 to 48 hours. Superinducibility is associated with the transformed phenotype.     

Extended culture of mouse embryo cells without senescence: inhibition by serum

Mouse embryo cells cultured in vitro in serum-supplemented media undergo growth crisis, resulting in the loss of genomically normal cells prior to the appearance of established, aneuploid cell lines. Mouse embryo cells established and maintained for multiple passages in the absence of serum did not exhibit growth crisis or gross chromosomal aberration. Cells cultured under these conditions were dependent on epidermal growth factor for survival. Proliferation was reversibly inhibited by serum or platelet-free plasma, suggesting that mouse embryo cultures maintained by conventional procedures are under the influence of inhibitory factors.     

A common onc gene sequence transduced by avian carcinoma virus MH2 and by murine sarcoma virus 3611

A common cellular sequence was independently transduced by avian carcinoma virus MH2 (v-mht) and murine sarcoma virus (MSV) 3611 (v-raf). Comparison of the nucleotide sequences of v-mht and v-raf revealed a region of homology that extends over 969 nucleotides. The homology between the corresponding amino acids was about 95 percent with only 19 of 323 amino acids being different. With this example, 5 of the 19 known different viral onc genes have been observed in viruses of different taxonomic groups. These data indicate that (i) the number of cellular proto-onc genes is limited because, like other viruses of different taxonomic groups, MH2 and MSV 3611 have transduced the same onc gene-specific sequences from different cell species and (ii) that specific deletion and linkage of the same proto-onc sequences to different viral vector elements affect the oncogenic potential of the resulting viruses. The difference in transformation capabilities of MH2 and MSV 3611 serves as an example.     

Nucleotide sequence of the oncogene encoding the p21 transforming protein of Kirsten murine sarcoma virus

The transforming protein ofKirsten murine sarcoma virus (Ki-MuSV) is a virally encoded 21-kilodalton protein called p21 kis. The sequences encoding p21 kis were genetically localized to a 1.3-kilobase segment near the 5' end of the viral genome by assaying the capacity of a series of defined deletion mutants of molecularly cloned Ki-MuSV DNA to induce focal transformation of mouse cells. Nucleotide sequencing of a portion of this region has led to the identification of an open reading frame of 567 nucleotides coding for p21 kis protein.     

Generation of mouse induced pluripotent stem cells without viral vectors

Induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells have been generated from mouse and human somatic cells by introducing Oct3/4 and Sox2 with either Klf4 and c-Myc or Nanog and Lin28 using retroviruses or lentiviruses. Patient-specific iPS cells could be useful in drug discovery and regenerative medicine. However, viral integration into the host genome increases the risk of tumorigenicity. Here, we report the generation of mouse iPS cells without viral vectors. Repeated transfection of two expression plasmids, one containing the complementary DNAs (cDNAs) of Oct3/4, Sox2, and Klf4 and the other containing the c-Myc cDNA, into mouse embryonic fibroblasts resulted in iPS cells without evidence of plasmid integration, which produced teratomas when transplanted into mice and contributed to adult chimeras. The production of virus-free iPS cells, albeit from embryonic fibroblasts, addresses a critical safety concern for potential use of iPS cells in regenerative medicine.     

Immunodiffusion: detection of a murine leukemia virus (Rauscher)

Homologous and heterologous antiserums from several species of animals have been prepared against the Rauscher murine leukemia virus. The Ouchterlony technique, adapted to very small quantities, has been used to demonstrate at least two or three antigens in Rauscher virus preparations. Both infected-host materials and tissue-culture fluids were used as antigens. When monkey antiserum was used, one of the Rauscher virus antigens cross-reacted with an antigen in the virus strains isolated by Friend and Moloney, but there was apparently no reaction with the Moloney virus when guinea-pig antiserum was used.     

Properties of a normal mouse cell DNA sequence (sarc) homologous to the src sequence of Moloney sarcoma virus

A 15.0-kilobase (kb) Eco RI DNA fragment from normal mouse Balb/c genomic DNA that contains sequences (sarc) homologous to the acquired cell sequences (src) of Moloney sarcoma virus (MSV) has been cloned in phage lambda. The sarc region (1.2 to 1.3 kb) of the 15.0-kb cell fragment is indistinguishable from the src region of two isolates of MSV as judged by heteroduplex and restriction endonuclease analyses. The cellular sequences flanking sarc show no homology to other MSV sequences. Whereas cloned subgenomic portions of MSV that contain src transformed NIH-3T3 cells in vitro, the cloned sarc fragment is inactive.     

Parathyroid hormone production in vitro by human parathyroid cells transformed by Simian virus 40

Cells froma human parathyroid adenoma were infected with simian virus 40 and maintained through 13 subcultures in monolayer tissue culture. For more than 9 months, these "transformed" cells contimed to produce parathyroid hormone which was identified by radioimmunoassay and density-gradient ultra centrifugation.     

Transformation of chick embryo neuroretinal cells by Rous sarcoma virus in vitro: induction of cell proliferation

Neuroretinal cells from 7-day-old chick embryos are transformed and induced to proliferate after infection with Rous sarcoma virus in vitro. Susceptibility of neuroretinal cells to the virus is also dependent on the stage of development since infection of cells from 10-day-old embryos is uneffective.     

DNA of Rous sarcoma virus: its nature and significance

Purified preparations of Rous sarcoma virus (an avian tumor virus with an RNA genome) contain small amounts of double-stranded DNA. This DNA cannot be hybridized to viral RNA, but will reanneal completely with the DNA of avian cells. Extensive substitution of bromodeoxyuridine for thymidine in "viral" DNA does not photosensitize the biological activity of the virus. These observations indicate that the DNA associated with Rous sarcoma virus is derived from the DNA of the avian host cell, and is probably devoid of any function in the life cycle of the virus.     

Immunocompetent cells among mouse thymocytes: a minor population

Suspensions prepared from thymuses of TL(+) mice contain a majority of TL(+) cells and a minority of TL(-) cells. The graft versus host reactivity of the TL(-) population is much greater than that of the whole population, as judged by the numbers of cells required to give splenic enlargements in Simonsen's assay. It is proposed that the TL(-) thymocyte represents a stage in the differentiation of TL(+) thymocytes into immunocompetent lymphocytes.