NUCLEOTIDE-SEQUENCE OF A TRANSDUCED MYC GENE FROM A DEFECTIVE FELINE LEUKEMIA PROVIRUS

The nucleotide sequence of a feline v-myc gene and feline leukemia virus (FeLV) flanking regions was determined. Both the nucleotide and predicted amino acid sequences are very similar to the murine and human c-myc genes (.apprx. 90% identity). The entire c-myc coding sequence is represented in feline v-myc and replaces portions of the gag and env genes and the entire pol gene. The coding sequence is in phase with the gag gene reading frame; v-myc, therefore, appears to be expressed as a gag-myc fusion protein. Viral sequences at the 3'' myc-FeLV junction begin with the hexanucleotide CTCCTC, which is also found at the 3'' fes-FeLV junction of both Gardner-Arnstein and Snyder-Theilen feline sarcoma viruses. These similarities suggest that some sequence specificity may exist for the transduction of cellular genes by FeLV. Feline v-myc lacks a potential phosphorylation site at amino acid 343 in the putative DNA-binding domain, whereas both human and murine c-myc have such sites. Avian v-myc has lost a potential phosphorylation site which is present in avian c-myc 5 amino acids from the potential mammalian site. If these sites are actually phosphorylated in normal c-myc proteins, their loss may alter the DNA-binding affinity of v-myc proteins.