Activation of a cellular onc gene by promoter insertion in ALV-induced lymphoid leukosis

Abstract
Analyses of DNA and RNA from avian leukosis virus (ALV)-induced lymphomas [in birds] have provided strong evidence that, in most tumors, ALV induces neoplastic disease by activating the c-myc gene, the cellular counterpart of the transforming gene of MC29 virus. As a rare event, the ALV provirus integrates adjacent to the c-myc gene and that transcription, initiating from a viral promoter, causes enhanced expression of c-myc, leading to neoplastic transformation.