Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Long terminal repeats”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 919 records · Page 51Linked to original sources

Functional and biological properties of an avian variant long terminal repeat containing multiple A to G conversions in the U3 sequence.

We previously reported that infection of chicken embryonic neuroretina cells with Rous-associated virus type 1 leads to the frequent occurrence of spliced readthrough transcripts containing viral and cellular sequences. Generation of such chimeric transcripts constitutes a very early step in oncogene transduction. We report, here, the isolation of a c-mil transducing retrovirus, designated IC4, which contains a highly mutated U3 sequence in which 48% of A is converted to G. Functional analysis of this variant U3 indicated that these mutations do not impair viral transcription and replication; however, they abolish functioning of its polyadenylation signal, thus allowing readthrough transcription of downstream cellular sequences. On the basis of these results, we designed a nonreplicative retroviral vector, pIC4Neo, expressing the neomycin resistance (Neo(r)) gene under the control of the IC4 long terminal repeat. Infection of nondividing neuroretina cells with virus produced by a packaging cell line transfected with pIC4Neo occasionally resulted in sustained cell proliferation. Two independent G418-resistant proliferating cultures were found to express hybrid RNAs containing viral and cellular sequences. These sequences were characterized by reverse transcription-PCR and were identified in both cultures, suggesting that proliferation was correlated with a common integration locus. These results indicate that IC4Neo virus functions as a useful insertional mutagen and may allow identification of genes potentially involved in regulation of cell division.

Adenine↗

In vivo and in vitro analysis of factor binding sites in Jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus long terminal repeat enhancer sequences: roles of HNF-3, NF-I, and C/EBP for activity in lung epithelial cells.

Jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus (JSRV) is the causative agent of ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma, a contagious lung cancer of sheep that arises from type II pneumocytes and Clara cells of the lung epithelium. Studies of the tropism of this virus have been hindered by the lack of an efficient system for viral replication in tissue culture. To map regulatory regions important for transcriptional activation, an in vivo footprinting method that couples dimethyl sulfate treatment and ligation-mediated PCR was performed in murine type II pneumocyte-derived MLE-15 cells infected with a chimeric Moloney murine leukemia virus driven by the JSRV enhancers (DeltaMo+JS Mo-MuLV). In vivo footprints were found in the JSRV enhancers in two regions previously shown to be important for JSRV long terminal repeat (LTR) activity: a binding site for the lung-specific transcription factor HNF-3beta and an E-box element in the distal enhancer adjacent to an NF-kappaB-like binding site. In addition, in vivo footprints were detected in two downstream motifs likely to bind C/EBP and NF-I. Mutational analysis of a JSRV LTR reporter construct (pJS21luc) revealed that the C/EBP binding site is critical for LTR activity, while the putative NF-I binding element is less important; elimination of these sites resulted in 70% and 40% drops in LTR activity, respectively. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays using nuclear extracts from MLE-15 murine Clara cell-derived mtCC1-2 cells with probes corresponding to the NF-I or C/EBP sites revealed several complexes. Antiserum directed against NF-IA, C/EBPalpha, or C/EBPbeta supershifted the corresponding protein-DNA complexes, indicating that these isoforms, which are also important for the expression of several cellular lung-specific genes, may be important for JSRV expression in lung epithelial cells.

Animals↗

Pleiotropic effects of immobilized versus soluble recombinant HIV-1 Tat protein on CD3-mediated activation, induction of apoptosis, and HIV-1 long terminal repeat transactivation in purified CD4+ T lymphocytes.

CD3 mAb and HIV-1 Tat protein co-immobilized on plastic were able to induce a strong proliferation of resting human CD4 T cells, cultured in a serum-free chemically defined medium. Blocking studies performed with heparin or peptides containing the RGD sequence demonstrated that the heparin-binding basic domain of Tat plays a predominant role in CD4+ T cell activation. Moreover, the enhanced proliferative response of CD4+ T cells to immobilized Tat appeared to be mediated by alpha 5, beta 1, and alpha v subunits of surface integrin receptors. In contrast, soluble Tat showed a dose-dependent inhibitory activity on the proliferative response of resting CD4+ T cells stimulated by CD3 mAb co-immobilized with Tat or fibronectin, but not with CD28 mAb. In transient transfection assays performed with an HIV-1 long terminal repeat (LTR)-chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) plasmid CD3 mAb co-immobilized with Tat or fibronectin or CD28 mAb significantly stimulated CAT activity over the background. On the other hand, while immobilized Tat alone had no effects on LTR transactivation, soluble Tat was able to transactivate LTR-CAT in a dose-dependent manner. When CD4+ T cells activated by CD3 mAb co-immobilized with Tat were recovered, cultured for 7 days with 25 U/ml recombinant IL-2, and given an additional activation signal by recross-linking CD3 mAb, a marked increase of apoptosis was observed with respect to cells not subjected to CD3 mAb recross-linking. While co-immobilized Tat plus CD3 mAb did not show any significant effect on activation-induced cell death, high concentrations of soluble Tat synergized with immobilized CD3 mAb in the induction of apoptosis.

Adult↗

Histone hyperacetylation does not alter the positioning or stability of phased nucleosomes on the mouse mammary tumor virus long terminal repeat.

Activation of mouse mammary tumor virus transcription by the hormone-bound glucocorticoid receptor results in disruption of a nucleosome that is specifically positioned on the promoter. Limited treatment of cells with the histone deacetylase inhibitor sodium butyrate prevents receptor-dependent promoter activation and nucleosome disruption [Bresnick, E. H., John, S., Berard, D. S., LeFebvre, P., & Hager, G. L. (1990) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 87, 3977-3981]. On the basis of this observation, we undertook a series of experiments to compare the structure of normal and hyperacetylated mouse mammary tumor virus chromatin. Although butyrate prevents hormone-induced restriction enzyme cutting specifically in the B nucleosome region, chromatin containing hyperacetylated histones does not differ from normal chromatin in general sensitivity to restriction enzymes. Indirect end-labeling analysis of micrococcal nuclease digested chromatin reveals that nucleosomes are identically phased on the mouse mammary tumor virus long terminal repeat in normal and hyperacetylated chromatin. A synthetic DNA fragment spanning the B nucleosome region was reconstituted into a monosome by using core particles containing normal or hyperacetylated histones. Analysis of the structure of reconstituted monosomes by nondenaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, salt stability, thermal stability, restriction enzyme accessibility, and exonuclease III or DNase I footprinting reveals no effect of histone hyperacetylation on monosome structure. These observations suggest that histone hyperacetylation does not induce a major change in the structure of mouse mammary tumor virus chromatin, such as nucleosome unfolding.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acetylation↗

Influence of env and long terminal repeat sequences on the tissue tropism of avian leukosis viruses.

Adsorption and penetration of retroviruses into eucaryotic cells is mediated by retroviral envelope glycoproteins interacting with host receptors. Recombinant avian leukosis viruses (ALVs) differing only in envelope determinants that interact with host receptors for subgroup A or E ALVs have been found to have unexpectedly distinctive patterns of tissue-specific replication. Recombinants of both subgroups were highly expressed in bursal lymphocytes as well as in cultured chicken embryo fibroblasts. In contrast, the subgroup A but not subgroup E host range allowed high levels of expression in skeletal muscle, while subgroup E but not subgroup A envelope glycoproteins permitted efficient replication in the thymus. A subgroup B virus (RAV-2), like the subgroup E viruses, demonstrated a distinct bursal and thymic tropism, further supporting the theory that genes encoding receptors for subgroup B and E viruses are allelic. The source of long terminal repeats (LTRs) or adjacent sequences also influenced tissue-specific replication, with the LTRs from endogenous virus RAV-0 supporting efficient replication in the bursa and thymus but not in skeletal muscle. These results indicate that ALV env and LTR regions are responsible for unexpectedly distinctive tissue tropisms.

Animals↗

Differential disease restriction of Moloney and Friend murine leukemia viruses by the mouse Rmcf gene is governed by the viral long terminal repeat.

Neonatal CxD2 (Rmcfr) and Balb/c (Rmcfs) mice inoculated with Moloney murine leukemia virus (M-MuLV) exhibited approximately equivalent time course and pathology for disease. CxD2 mice showed only slightly reduced presence of Moloney mink cell focus-forming virus (M-MCF) provirus as seen by Southern blot analysis compared to Balb/c mice. This lack of restriction for disease and spread of MCF was in sharp contrast to that seen for CxD2 mice inoculated with Friend murine leukemia virus (F-MuLV), where incidence of disease and propagation of MCFs were severely restricted, as previously reported. Inoculation of CxD2 mice with FM-MuLV, a recombinant F-MuLV virus containing M-MuLV LTR sequences (U3 and R), resulted in T cell disease of time course equal to that seen in Balb/c mice; there also was little restriction for propagation of MCFs. This indicated that presence of the M-MuLV long terminal repeat (LTR) was sufficient for propagation of MCFs in CxD2 mice. Differing restriction for F-MuLV vs. M-MuLV in CxD2 mice was explained on the basis of different "MCF propagator cells" for the two viruses. It was suggested that cells propagating F-MCF (e.g., erythroid progenitors) are blocked by endogenous MCF-like gp70env protein, whereas cells propagating M-MCF (e.g., lymphoid) do not express this protein on their surface. F-MuLV disease in CxD2 mice was greatly accelerated when neonates were inoculated with a F-MuLV/F-MCF pseudotypic mixture. However, F-MCF provirus was not detectable or only barely detectable in F-MuLV/F-MCF-induced tumors, suggesting that F-MCF acted indirectly in induction of these tumors.

Alleles↗

Long terminal repeats of human T-cell leukaemia virus II genome determine target cell specificity.

Human T-cell leukaemias and lymphomas associated with the human T-cell leukaemia viruses (HTLV) are invariably neoplasms of cells with mature T-lymphocyte phenotype. Epstein-Barr virus-transformed B- lymphoycte lines which are productively infected with HTLV may be isolated from patients with HTLV malignancies, but no non-lymphoid tissues seem to be involved. Here, to investigate the basis for this tissue specificity, we introduced type II HTLV (HTLV-II) into a variety of human cells by infection and also by transfection of recombinant genomes. We found no HTLV-II expression in non-lymphoid tissues although expression and correct initiation of transcription was observed in B and T lymphocytes. Our results using recombinant genomes indicate that the restriction of expression is at least partly due to cis-acting functions of the long terminal repeats which lie at each end of the HTLV genome.

Base Sequence↗

Transcriptional regulation of early transposon elements, an active family of mouse long terminal repeat retrotransposons.

While early transposon (ETn) endogenous retrovirus (ERV)-like elements are known to be active insertional mutagens in the mouse, little is known about their transcriptional regulation. ETns are transcribed during early mouse embryogenesis in embryonic stem (ES) and embryonic carcinoma (EC) cell lines. Despite their lack of coding potential, some ETns remain transposition competent through their use of reverse transcriptase encoded by a related group of ERVs-MusD elements. In this study, we have confirmed high expression levels of ETn and MusD elements in ES and EC cells and have demonstrated an increase in the copy number of ETnII elements in the EC P19 cell line. Using transient transfections, we have shown that ETnII and MusD LTRs are much more active as promoters in P19 cells than in NIH 3T3 cells, indicating that genomic context and methylation are not the only factors determining endogenous transcriptional activity of ETns. Three sites in the 5' part of the long terminal repeat (LTR) were demonstrated to bind Sp1 and Sp3 transcription factors and were found to be important for high LTR promoter activity in P19 cells, suggesting that as yet unidentified Sp binding partners are involved in the regulation of ETn activity in undifferentiated cells. Finally, we found multiple transcription start sites within the ETn LTR and have shown that the LTR retains significant promoter activity in the absence of its noncanonical TATA box. These findings lend insight into the transcriptional regulation of this family of mobile mouse retrotransposons.

3T3 Cells↗

The short interspersed repetitive element of Trypanosoma cruzi, SIRE, is part of VIPER, an unusual retroelement related to long terminal repeat retrotransposons.

The short interspersed repetitive element (SIRE) of Trypanosoma cruzi was first detected when comparing the sequences of loci that encode the TcP2beta genes. It is present in about 1,500-3,000 copies per genome, depending on the strain, and it is distributed in all chromosomes. An initial analysis of SIRE sequences from 21 genomic fragments allowed us to derive a consensus nucleotide sequence and structure for the element, consisting of three regions (I, II, and III) each harboring distinctive features. Analysis of 158 transcribed SIREs demonstrates that the consensus is highly conserved. The sequences of 51 cDNAs show that SIRE is included in the 3' end of several mRNAs, always transcribed from the sense strand, contributing the polyadenylation site in 63% of the cases. This study led to the characterization of VIPER (vestigial interposed retroelement), a 2,326-bp-long unusual retroelement. VIPER's 5' end is formed by the first 182 bp of SIRE, whereas its 3' end is formed by the last 220 bp of the element. Both SIRE moieties are connected by a 1,924-bp-long fragment that carries a unique ORF encoding a complete reverse transcriptase-RNase H gene whose 15 C-terminal amino acids derive from codons specified by SIRE's region II. The amino acid sequence of VIPER's reverse transcriptase-RNase H shares significant homology to that of long terminal repeat retrotransposons. The fact that SIRE and VIPER sequences are found only in the T. cruzi genome may be of relevance for studies concerning the evolution and the genome flexibility of this protozoan parasite.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Substitution of feline leukemia virus long terminal repeat sequences into murine leukemia virus alters the pattern of insertional activation and identifies new common insertion sites.

The recombinant retrovirus, MoFe2-MuLV (MoFe2), was constructed by replacing the U3 region of Moloney murine leukemia virus (M-MuLV) with homologous sequences from the FeLV-945 LTR. NIH/Swiss mice neonatally inoculated with MoFe2 developed T-cell lymphomas of immature thymocyte surface phenotype. MoFe2 integrated infrequently (0 to 9%) near common insertion sites (CISs) previously identified for either parent virus. Using three different strategies, CISs in MoFe2-induced tumors were identified at six loci, none of which had been previously reported as CISs in tumors induced by either parent virus in wild-type animals. Two of the newly identified CISs had not previously been implicated in lymphoma in any retrovirus model. One of these, designated 3-19, encodes the p101 regulatory subunit of phosphoinositide-3-kinase-gamma. The other, designated Rw1, is predicted to encode a protein that functions in the immune response to virus infection. Thus, substitution of FeLV-945 U3 sequences into the M-MuLV long terminal repeat (LTR) did not alter the target tissue for M-MuLV transformation but significantly altered the pattern of CIS utilization in the induction of T-cell lymphoma. These observations support a growing body of evidence that the distinctive sequence and/or structure of the retroviral LTR determines its pattern of insertional activation. The findings also demonstrate the oligoclonal nature of retrovirus-induced lymphomas by demonstrating proviral insertions at CISs in subdominant populations in the tumor mass. Finally, the findings demonstrate the utility of novel recombinant retroviruses such as MoFe2 to contribute new genes potentially relevant to the induction of lymphoid malignancy.

Animals↗

Aromatase mRNA in the extragonadal tissues of chickens with the henny-feathering trait is derived from a distinctive promoter structure that contains a segment of a retroviral long terminal repeat. Functional organization of the Sebright, Leghorn, and Campine aromatase genes.

The henny-feathering trait is an autosomal dominant mutation that causes the expression of aromatase activity and accumulation of aromatase mRNA in extragonadal tissues of chickens. The current studies establish that the aromatase gene is not amplified and is organized similarly in control (Leghorn) and henny-feathered (Sebright and Campine) birds. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the nine coding exons of the aromatase gene reveals that the predicted amino acid sequence is identical in all three strains. We, therefore, characterized the genomic DNA segments flanking the coding segment of the Sebright, Leghorn, and Campine aromatase genes. The site of transcription initiation utilized in the ovary of all three strains is located approximately 147 nucleotides upstream of the initiator methionine. In addition to aromatase mRNA derived from this common ovarian promoter, another species of aromatase mRNA is present in Sebright and Campine ovary and is the only type detected in Sebright fibroblasts. cDNA copies of this second species of aromatase mRNA contain a unique 5' terminus, suggesting that a second promoter controls extragonadal aromatase expression in birds that carry the henny-feathering trait. Nucleotide sequence analysis of this 5' terminus indicates that this segment is derived from a retroviral long terminal repeat.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Molecular cloning of biologically active Rauscher spleen focus-forming virus and the sequences of its env gene and long terminal repeat.

Rauscher and Friend spleen focus-forming viruses (R- and F-SFFVs) cause similar progressive erythroleukemias dependent upon a virus-encoded membrane glycoprotein. Moreover, these SFFV glycoproteins are immunologically related to each other and to the recombinant-type glycoproteins encoded by the env genes of dual tropic murine leukemia viruses. To better understand these diseases and the viral origins, we isolated a pathogenically active molecular clone of R-SFFV proviral DNA, sequenced its 3'-terminal 2,163-base-pair (bp) region, and compared these sequences with previously determined sequences of F-SFFV. The 516-bp R-SFFV long terminal repeat is highly homologous to those of F-SFFV and Friend murine leukemia virus, although only the latter contains a 65-bp direct repeat in its U3 region. The env gene of R-SFFV encodes a glycoprotein with 408 amino acids that is identical in its basic domain organization to the glycoprotein of F-SFFV. Thus, the junctions between the dual tropic-related and ecotropic sequences occur at the same nucleotide, and both SFFV env genes contain identical 585-bp deletions in their ecotropic domains and single-bp insertions which cause premature terminations at the same amino acid in their ecotropic p15E domains. Consistent with their independent origins, however, the env sequences of R- and F-SFFV are distinctive in both their 5' dual tropic-related and 3' ecotropic-related domains. Furthermore, there are several consistent amino acid differences between the polycythemic F-SFFV sequences and the anemia-inducing R-SFFV sequence. The striking similarities of the independently formed F- and R-SFFV env genes imply that all of the glycoprotein domains arranged in a precise organization may be required for its leukemogenic activity

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Nuclear factors that bind two regions important to transcriptional activity of the simian immunodeficiency virus long terminal repeat.

Previous studies identified two regions in the U3 region of a molecular clone of simian immunodeficiency virus, SIVmac142, that are important to transcriptional activity under conditions of induction as well as basal-level expression (B. Renjifo, N. A. Speck, S. Winandy, N. Hopkins, and Y. Li, J. Virol. 64:3130-3134, 1990). One region includes the NF-kappa B binding site, while the other lies just 5' of this site between nucleotides -162 and -114 (the -162 to -114 region). The fact that the NF-kappa B site mutation attenuated transcriptional activity in uninduced T cells and fibroblasts where activated NF-kappa B would not be present suggested that a factor(s) other than NF-kappa B could be acting through this site. In this study, we have identified a factor which binds to a cis element overlapping the NF-kappa B site. This factor, which we call simian factor 3 (SF3), would play a role in regulation under conditions of basal level expression, whereas under conditions of induction, NF-kappa B would act via this region. SF3 may also bind to an element in the -162 to -114 region. In addition, we have identified two other factors that bind the -162 to -114 region. One, which we designated SF1, is a ubiquitous basal factor, and the other, SF2, is a T-cell-predominant phorbol myristate acetate-inducible factor. Through identification of nuclear factors that interact with the U3 region of the SIVmac142 long terminal repeat, we can gain insight into how this virus is transcriptionally regulated under conditions of basal-level expression as well as conditions of T-cell activation.

Animals↗

Important role of the long terminal repeat of the helper Moloney murine leukemia virus in Abelson virus-induced lymphoma.

The helper virus has been shown to play a critical role in the development of lymphoma induced by the defective Abelson murine leukemia virus (A-MuLV). Indeed, A-MuLV pseudotyped with some viruses, such as the Moloney MuLV, has been shown to be highly lymphogenic, whereas A-MuLV pseudotyped with other viruses, such as the BALB/c endogenous N-tropic MuLV, has been shown to be devoid of lymphogenic potential (N. Rosenberg and D. Baltimore, J. Exp. Med. 147:1126-1141, 1978; C. D. Scher, J. Exp. Med. 147: 1044-1053, 1978). To map the viral DNA sequences encoding the determinant of the lymphogenic potential of Moloney MuLV when complexed with A-MuLV, we constructed chimeric helper viral DNA genomes in vitro between parental cloned infectious viral DNA genomes from Moloney MuLV and from BALB/c endogenous N-tropic MuLV. Chimeric helper MuLVs, recovered after transfection of NIH 3T3 cells were used to rescue A-MuLV, and the pseudotypes were inoculated into newborn NIH Swiss, CD-1, and SWR/J mice to test their lymphogenic potential. We found that a 0.44-kilobase-pair PstI-KpnI long terminal repeat-containing fragment from the Moloney MuLV was sufficient to confer some, but not complete, lymphogenic potential to a chimeric virus (p7M2) in NIH Swiss and SWR/J mice, but not in CD-1 mice. The addition of the 3'-end env sequences (comprising the carboxy terminus of gp70 and all p15E) to the U3 long terminal repeat sequences restored the full lymphogenic potential of the Moloney MuLV. Our data indicate that the 3'-end sequences of the helper Moloney MuLV are somehow involved in the development of lymphoma induced by A-MuLV. The same sequences have previously been found to harbor the determinant of leukemogenicity and of disease specificity of Moloney MuLV when inoculated alone.

Abelson murine leukemia virus↗

Activation of c-mos oncogene by integration of an endogenous long terminal repeat element during transfection of genomic DNA from mouse skin tumor cells.

An activated c-mos oncogene was identified in a transformed clone of golden hamster embryo cells transfected with DNA extracted from cells cultured from a UV-induced mouse skin tumor. Southern blot hybridization with a v-mos oncogene probe showed that the mos oncogene was amplified in the primary and secondary transformed cells but not in the original tumor cells. Expression of the mos oncogene was very high in the primary and secondary transformants, but mos mRNA was undetectable in the original tumor cells. A genomic DNA fragment containing the activated mos oncogene was cloned and sequenced. The upstream mouse sequence of the mos oncogene, which functions as the transcription terminator, was lost and replaced by a mouse endogenous long terminal repeat (LTR) element that provides the promoter sequence, resulting in high expression of the gene. The rearrangement apparently occurred during transfection, since the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) product encompassing the junction region was present in the primary and secondary transformants but not in the original tumor cells. The LTR element is likely to have been amplified during the skin tumor development caused by UV irradiation. Southern blot hybridization showed that the copy number of LTR in the tumor cells was significantly higher than that in normal skin cells. The amplification of the LTR in the cells may have increased the chance of recombination between the LTR and c-mos gene during the DNA transfection.

Animals↗

Base-pair substitutions in avian sarcoma virus U5 and U3 long terminal repeat sequences alter the process of DNA integration in vitro.

We have described a reconstituted avian sarcoma virus (ASV) concerted DNA integration system with specially designed mini-donor DNA containing a supF transcription unit, a supercoiled plasmid acceptor, purified bacterially expressed ASV integrase (IN), and human high-mobility-group protein I(Y). Integration in this system is dependent upon the mini-donor DNA having IN recognition sequences at both ends and upon both ends of the same donor integrating into the acceptor DNA. The integrated DNA product exhibits all of the features associated with integration of viral DNA in vivo (P. Hindmarsh et al., J. Virol., 73:2994-3003, 1999). Individual integrants are isolated from bacteria containing drug-resistant markers with amber mutations. This system was used to evaluate the importance of sequences in the terminal U5 and U3 long terminal repeats at positions 5 and/or 6, adjacent to the conserved CA dinucleotide. Base-pair substitutions introduced at these positions in U5 result in significant reductions in recovered integrants from bacteria, due to increases in one-ended insertion events. Among the recovered integrants from reactions with mutated U5 but not U3 IN recognition sequences were products that contain large deletions in the acceptor DNA. Base-pair substitutions at positions 5 and 6 in U3 mostly reduce the efficiency of integration of the modified donor. Together, these results indicate that sequences directly 5' to the conserved CA dinucleotide are very important for the process of concerted DNA integration. Furthermore, IN interacts with U3 and U5 termini differently, and aberrant end-processing events leading to nonconcerted DNA integration are more common in U5 than in U3.

Avian Sarcoma Viruses↗