Molecular dissection of transcriptional control elements within the long terminal repeat of the retrovirus.

The retroviral long terminal repeat (LTR) contains transcriptional control elements that affect viral gene expression. By deletion mutagenesis of the genome of the cloned Abelson murine leukemia virus, regulatory signals could be mapped to at least three domains within the LTR. A defective 5' LTR that did not sustain transforming gene function was complemented by an intact LTR positioned at the 3' end of the genome. This versatility of the retroviral genome with respect to its transcriptional control elements appears to provide a strong selective advantage for viral gene expression.