Recent studies on retrovirus-like particles in Chinese hamster ovary cells

Highly concentrated (4000-7000-fold) culture fluids from CHO cells were analysed for the presence of retrovirus-like activity. Concentrates containing reverse transcriptase activity were detected and further purified by sucrose density gradient centrifugation. Particles banding at 1.13-1.16 g/ml were found to contain nucleic acid sequences and structural proteins related to those found in murine and other retroviruses. Analysis of the endonuclease gene has shown no intact open reading frames. Approximately 100-300 copies of the C-type sequences were present in the genome of CHO cell lines as well as in the DNA extracted from Chinese hamster liver, indicating that these sequences are present in the germ line of the species. Concentrates were analysed for infectivity by direct inoculation and co-cultivation with a series of detector cells. No evidence of infectivity was detected by reverse transcriptase, mink cell S+L- focus assay or by electron microscopic analysis of the inoculated detector cells after at least four passages in culture.