Structure and expression of mouse VL30 genes.

Area of Science:

• Molecular Biology
• Genetics
• Cell Biology

Background:

• VL30 elements are endogenous retroviral sequences found in rodents.
• Their structure and regulation, particularly in response to cellular stimuli, are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the structure of a mouse VL30 gene.
• To characterize the VL30-related RNA induced by peptide growth factors.
• To elucidate the regulatory mechanisms controlling VL30 gene expression.

Main Methods:

• DNA sequencing and blot hybridization analyses were employed.
• Cultured AKR mouse embryo cells were stimulated with peptide growth factors (epidermal growth factor and insulin).
• VL30-specific RNA was analyzed for sequence complementarity.

Main Results:

• An integrated mouse VL30 gene possesses identical long terminal repeats (LTRs) and flanking direct repeats, analogous to retroviral proviruses.
• VL30 LTRs contain putative promoter and polyadenylation signals, with some sequence homology to murine leukemia virus LTRs.
• Mitogenic stimulation rapidly induced a 5.5-kilobase VL30-specific RNA.

Conclusions:

• VL30 genes are structurally similar to mobile genetic elements and retroviral proviruses.
• Peptide growth factor stimulation of specific membrane receptors highly regulates VL30 gene expression.
• VL30-related RNA induction is a rapid response to mitogenic signals.