Specific RNA sequences and gene products of MC29 avian acute leukemia virus

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Abstract
The 28S RNA of the defective avian acute leukemia virus MC29 contains 2 sets of sequences: 60% are hybridized by DNA complementary [c] to other avian tumor virus RNA (group-specific cDNA) and 40% are hybridized only by MC29-specific cDNA. Specific and group-specific sequences of viral RNA, defined in terms of their large RNase T1-resistant oligonucleotides, were located on a map of all large T1 oligonucleotides of viral RNA. Oligonucleotides representing MC29-specific sequences of viral RNA mapped between 0.4 and 0.7 unit from the 3''-poly(A) end. Oligonucleotides of group-specific sequences mapped between 0 and 0.4 and between 0.7 and 1 map unit. Cell-free translation of viral RNA yielded 3 proteins with approximate molecular weights of 120,000, 56,000 and 37,000, termed P120mc, P56mc and P37mc. P120mc contained both MC29-specific peptides and serological determinants and peptides of the conserved, internal group-specific antigens of avian tumor viruses. P120mc is translated only from full-length 28S RNA. MC29 RNA contains sequences related to the group-specific antigen gene (gag), near the 5'' end, which are followed by MC29-specific sequences. Apparently, this protein is translated from the 5'' 60% of the RNA, and it includes a segment translated from the specific sequences. The transforming (onc) gene of MC29 may consist of the specific and some group-specific RNA sequences and that P120mc, found also in transformed cells, may be the onc gene product.