Most sequence differences between the genomes of the Akv virus and a leukemogenic Gross A virus passaged in vitro are located near the 3' terminus.

Abstract

The 70S genomic RNA of nonleukemogenic AKR (Akv) virus was compared to that of an in vitro passaged, cloned, leukemogenic Gross A virus by fingerprint and sequence analysis. Large RNase T1-resistant oligonucleotides (57) of each virus have the same electrophoretic mobility and sequence. Thirteen large RNase T1 oligonucleotides are unique to the Gross A virus, whereas 5 are unique to Akv. Four of the oligonucleotides unique to each virus are related by 1 or 2 simple base changes. Five of the differences in oligonucleotides are located in the region of the genome that codes for the gag and pol genes. Eight of the differences are located near the 3'' poly(A) terminus of the virus. The origins and biological consequences of these differences are discussed.