Complete genome sequences of new xenotropic murine leukemia viruses from the senescence-accelerated mouse (SAM): molecular and phylogenetic analyses

PLoS One. 2013;8(2):e55669. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0055669. Epub 2013 Feb 5.

Abstract

Approximately 10% of the mouse genome is constituted by endogenous retroviruses (ERVs), and a number of mouse ERVs remain active. Many copies of endogenous murine leukemia viruses (MuLVs) are detected in the genomes of inbred mouse strains. Some of these MuLVs are transcriptionally active or produce infectious virus particles. Previously, we identified partial env sequences of new xenotropic MuLVs (X-MuLVs) from a senescence-accelerated mouse (SAM) strain. In the present study, we investigated and characterized the complete sequences of the X-MuLVs. The complete genomes and open reading frames (ORFs) of two X-MuLVs, designated xmlv15 and xmlv18 (accession nos. HQ154630 and HQ154631, respectively), were molecularly cloned from the genome of the SAM mice. We confirmed that the xmlv15 and xmlv18 sequences are distinct from all known MuLV genomes and are most similar to DG-75 MuLV. Moreover, we found that common strains of laboratory mice carry our newly identified xmlvs. Additionally, the expression levels of xmlv15-related sequences were much higher in C57BL and ICR mice than in the SAM strains without any stimulators. Our findings suggest that a specific group of endogenous MuLVs is constitutively expressed in the brain and that they may participate in normal functions and/or pathogenic conditions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aging / genetics
  • Aging / physiology*
  • Animals
  • Genome, Viral / genetics*
  • Leukemia Virus, Murine / classification
  • Leukemia Virus, Murine / genetics*
  • Mice
  • Phylogeny
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction

Grants and funding

This research was supported by Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (2012-0000308) and by the National Research Foundation of Korea Grant funded by the Korean Government (NRF-2011-619-E0001). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.