Structure of murine sarcoma virus DNA replicative intermediates synthesized in vitro.

Moloney murine sarcoma virions synthesize discrete DNA products in vitro which closely resemble those found in vivo shortly after infection. These in vitro products have been isolated by electrophoresis and mapped with restriction endonucleases. In addition to the full-genome-length 6-kilobase pair linear DNA, a 5.4-kilobase pair circular DNA molecule, an incomplete linear DNA molecule, and a 600-base pair molecule were detected. The 6-kilobase pair DNA contained a 600-base pair direct terminal repeat which was missing from the circular form and was partially represented on the incomplete linear DNA molecule. The 600-base pair DNA contained sequences which were present in the 600-base pair direct repeat on the 6-kilobase pair DNA. The order of synthesis and the structure of these molecules detected in the in vitro reaction suggest that they are crucial intermediates in the formation of the final product of in vitro reverse transcription. A model which accounts for the synthesis of all of these molecules during the initial stages of viral replication is suggested.