Structural abnormality and over-expression of the myc gene in feline leukemias

Tumor cells of feline leukemia were examined for structural abnormality and expression of the myc gene. Four of 12 spontaneous leukemia cases showed structural abnormalities of the myc gene detected by Southern blotting analysis. Of these 4 cases, one (Case 1) showed a DNA rearrangement in the 5' portion of the c-myc locus associated with integration of feline leukemia virus (FeLV) genome. Another case had a newly inserted myc gene which was transduced by FeLV. In the 2 other cases, no relation of abnormalities of the myc gene to FeLV was detected. One case of experimental leukemia induced by inoculation of a cell line, FT-1, established from Case 1 showed a c-myc gene rearrangement similar to that observed in Case 1. Expression of myc RNA was examined in 3 leukemia T-cell lines, FT-1, FL74 and F422, by Northern blotting analysis. A high level of myc transcript was detected in all 3 cell lines. The size of myc RNAs in FT-1 and FL74 was the same as that of normal myc RNA, while in F422 which had myc-containing FeLV (myc-FelV), the full genome and spliced form of myc-FeLV viral RNA were detected.