Integration and expression of provirus in human cells transformed by avian sarcoma virus.

Previously, human diploid fibroblasts from some donors infected in vitro by avian sarcoma virus (ASV) were transformed and found, by electron microscopy, to produce small numbers of virus particles that were infectious by bioassay; also, a line of human osteosarcoma cells infected with ASV developed additional characteristics of transformation and released a small number of infectious virus particles. In this study the complete proviral sequence was shown to be integrated in the genome of these cells. The env-related proteins gp85 and gp37 and the gag-related proteins pr76, pr60, and p19 can be detected in cytoplasmic extracts of ASV-infected human cells. Comparable amounts of pp60v-src were found in human and avian cells infected with ASV. The associated kinase activity in infected human cells was dramatically increased as compared to that of uninfected controls; the enzyme had the same cation and substrate requirements as those from ASV-transformed avian cells. Replicating particles from infected human cells were purified and were significantly modified compared to those from avian hosts as shown by a) higher specific gravity, b) the presence of RSV gag-related but not env-related antigens, and c) the fact that the virus-associated reverse transcriptase preferred the divalent cations Mn2+ and Fe2+ over Mg2+.