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- FIGURE 8.1-1. Genetics of cancer-associated retroviruses. (A) Reverse
- transcription. Reverse transcriptase cannot initiate polymerization de
- novo [ref: 21] and primes off a parasitized host-cell tRNA bound to
- cognate nucleotides at the terminus of U5. From there, synthesis of
- minus strand DNA proceeds to the 5' end of the genomic RNA, forming
- the "strong-stop" cDNA (step 1). The RNA portion of the duplex is
- degraded and the strong-stop cDNA strand then transfers (step 2) to
- the homologous R region at the 3' end of the RNA (the "first jump");
- negative strand cDNA synthesis again proceeds in the same direction to
- generate a single-stranded DNA molecule terminating at the tRNA
- primer-binding site (step 3). Coincident with further degradation of
- the genomic RNA, a second priming event is initiated (step 4) at a
- string of purine RNA residues (the polypurine tract) located just
- upstream of U3 in the virion RNA to allow synthesis of a second,
- positive strand DNA molecule encompassing the full downstream LTR. A
- second strand transfer (step 5) then permits synthesis of the
- full-length double stranded DNA (step 6). LTRs of
- replication-competent retroviruses enclose three canonical genes: gag,
- pol, and env. In general, gag (group specific antigen) codes for the
- internal core proteins, while pol encodes enzymes that include reverse
- transcriptase and integrase. Both gag and pol are translated from the
- full-length genomic RNA; env is translated from a singly spliced RNA
- and encodes the surface glycoprotein that permits viral entry by
- binding to species and cell lineage-specific surface receptors. The
- complex retroviruses such as the HTLVs and the lentiviruses (e.g.,
- SIV, HIV-1 and HIV-2, feline immunodeficiency virus, visna, maedi,
- caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus, and equine infectious anemia
- virus) encode additional viral regulatory and accessory proteins.
- These viruses generate proportionately more complex ensembles of
- spliced mRNAs. [ref: 16] (B) Rous sarcoma virus and simian sarcoma
- virus. The former is replication-competent, the latter has sacrificed
- coding sequences to the insertion. (C) Avian leukemia virus. Promoter
- insertion is illustrated. (D) Genomic structures of the human
- retroviruses HIV-1 and HTLV-I. (E) A retroviral vector, LNL6 18.
- microCuries, psi or packaging signal. NeoR, neomycin
- phosphotransferase II gene.
-