Characterization of a transcriptional activator in the envelope gene of mouse mammary tumor virus.

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1994. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

Characterization of a transcriptional activator in the envelope gene of mouse mammary tumor virus.

Diss Abstr Int [B]; 54(3):1387 1993. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE ICDB/94697102
Miller CL; Univ. of Alberta, Canada

Abstract: Mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) is the causative agent of mammary carcinomas in certain mouse strains. There is also evidence indicating that it may be associated with the development of T lymphomas. Transcription of the complete MMTV proviral genome in mouse cells is controlled by a strong promoter in its long terminal repeat (LTR). In the mouse T lymphoma cell line EL4.E1, there is a second, activation-dependent, transcriptional activator sequence within the MMTV envelope (env) gene. Phorbol ester treatment of EL4.E1 cells generates a transcript initiating within the env gene, which includes the open reading frame gene of the 3' LTR. I have isolated and characterized a segment of the MMTV env gene (called META for MMTV env transcriptional activator). META was linked to the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) gene for use in transient-expression assays. META induced activation-dependent, T lymphocyte-specific expression of the CAT gene. It was active in mouse and human T helper cell lines but not in other cell types. META activity was dependent on activation of the T helper cell line with the same stimuli which induced cytokine production and its activity was suppressible by the immunosuppressive drug, Cyclosporin A. META has been isolated from EL4.E1 cells, from a T cell hybridoma, and from BALB/c spleen cells. It was also demonstrated that a portion of META acts as an inducible, orientation-independent, CsA-sensitive enhancer when linked to a heterologous promoter. A model for the potential involvement of META in MMTV-induced T lymphomagenesis is presented. (Full text available from University Microfilms International, Ann Arbor, MI, as Order No. AADNN-77372)

Keywords: Animal Chloramphenicol Acetyltransferase/GENETICS Cyclosporine/PHARMACOLOGY Gene Expression Gene Products, env/*GENETICS Lymphocyte Transformation Lymphoma, T-Cell/*GENETICS Mammary Tumor Viruses, Mouse/DRUG EFFECTS/*GENETICS Mice Promoter Regions (Genetics) Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer/IMMUNOLOGY *Trans-Activation (Genetics) THESIS
940630
M9460925

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