RNA tumor virus-like activities in human solid tissues: endogenous RNA:DNA polymerase activities in the prostate

Several human prostatic tissues have been examined for possible particles and associated DNA polymerizing activity generally associated with the C-type RNA tumor virus family. Partially purified tissue extracts, when centrifuged to equilibrium in sucrose gradients, yield fractions which contain actinomycin D resistant, endogenous DNA polymerase activity; this activity bands at a density of 1.15-1.18 gm/cm3. Further analysis of the endogenous products by sucrose gradient sedimentation suggested the presence of high molecular weight RNA:DNA hybrids generally felt to be indicative of a faithful copy of a lengthy stretch of viral specific RNA. However, most of the DNA products synthesized in these endogenous reactions sedimented in much lower molecular weight regions of these sucrose gradients. Clearly, the relative distributions of "high" and "low" molecular weight products could critically depend on the nuclease content of the subcellular fraction under study, and the prostate may be relatively enriched in nucleases. Further, oligo (dT) stimulated the endogenous DNA polymerase activity contained in these extracts, and omission of one of the DNA precursor nucleotides depressed it. Thus, it seems unlikely that terminal transferase activity, rather than genuine DNA polymerization, was being measured primarily. Because of the spectrum of molecular weight classes formed by these DNA:RNA hybrids, as well as their apparent presence in normal prostatic tissue, we find it difficult to ascribe their presence with certainty either to the presence of typical C-type RNA viruses or to the exclusive behavior of the neoplastic prostatic tissue. Thus, our studies lend support to the growing evidence for functions similar to those of C-type RNA viruses being relatively widespread in human tissues without the apparent necessity for a possible etiologic role in neoplastic production (Strand and August, 1974; Sherr et al., 1974). At the same time, our current studies emphasize the need for caution in drawing conclusions from results utilizing probes generally felt quite useful in scoring for presence of virus in lower animals at least in the human prostate.