Genetic organization of gibbon ape leukemia virus

Abstract

Gibbon ape leukemia virus (GaLV) is a highly oncogenic C-type retrovirus capable of inducing myeloid leukemia in juvenile gibbons. GaLV is antigenically most closely related to a new world monkey virus, simian sarcoma associated virus (SSAV), and less to the murine and feline C-type leukemia viruses. To begin to understand how this virus induces leukemia at the molecular level, we have sequenced a GaLV genome and shown that it has a "minimal" genetic complement of 5'R-U5-gag-pol-env-U3-R3'. No additional genes could be identified. Such a genetic structure is identical to those of the murine and feline C-type leukemogenic viruses. Despite its suggested murine origin, the GaLV sequence is as closely related to the murine viruses as it is to the feline retroviruses. Finally the GaLV sequence is indistinguishable from that of the fragments of SSAV available indicating that, in fact, SSAV is of gibbon origin.