[2 nonstructural glycosylated polyproteins coded by the gag gene of retrovirus type D]

Two nonstructural glycosylated gag-encoded polyproteins were identified in D type retrovirus-infected cells of human transplantable laryngeal carcinoma by a "pulse-chase" modification of the immunoprecipitation method. The molecular weights of these polyproteins were 78 K (gPr 78gag) and 90 K (gPr 90gag), respectively. Glucosamine and galactose constituted their carbohydrate component. Initially, gPr 90gag is synthesized, to be followed by gPr 78gag, perhaps due to the split of gPr 90gag. The functional role of these glycoproteins remains to be established. It is suggested that the said and similar glycosylated polyproteins of other retroviruses play a role in stimulating proliferation of retrovirus-infected cells.