- Rous sarcoma virus
Taxobox
name = "PAGENAME"
virus_group = vi
familia = "Retroviridae "
subfamilia = "Orthoretrovirinae"
genus = "Alpharetrovirus "
species = "Rous sarcoma virus"Rous sarcoma virus is a
retrovirus and is the firstoncovirus to have been described: it causessarcoma in chickens.As with all retroviruses, it reverse transcribes its RNA genome into
cDNA before integration into the host DNA.History
RSV was discovered in 1911 by
Peyton Rous , working atRockefeller University in New York City, by injecting cell free extract ofchicken tumour into healthy Plymouth Rock chickens. The extract was found to induceoncogenesis . The tumour was found to be composed of connective tissue (a sarcoma).Rous was awarded the
Nobel Prize for the significance of his discovery in1966 .tructure and genome
RSV is a class VI enveloped virus with a positive sense RNA genome having a DNA intermediate.
RSV has four genes:
*gag - encodes capsid proteins
*pol - encodes reverse transcriptase
*env - encodes envelope proteins and
*src - encodes atyrosine kinase that attaches phosphate groups to the amino acidtyrosine in host cell proteins.The RSV genome has
terminal repeat s enabling its integration into the host genome and also over expression of RSV genes.rc gene
The src gene is oncogenic as it triggers uncontrolled growth in abnormal host cells. It is an acquired gene, found to be present throughout the animal kingdom with high levels of conservation between species.
The src gene was taken up by RSV and incorporated into its genome conferring it with the advantage of being able to stimulate uncontrolled
mitosis of host cells, providing abundant cells for fresh infection.The src gene is not essential for RSV proliferation but it greatly increases virulence when present.
External links
* [http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/R/RSV.html the Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) at rcn.com]
* [http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/techniques/fluorescence/gallery/cells/cv1/cv1cells.html molecular expressions at magnet.fsu.edu]
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