STABILIZATION OF THE P53 GENE-PRODUCT IN 2 BOVINE LEUKEMIA-VIRUS INFECTED CELL-LINES

Fetal lamb kidney cells (FLK) and bat lung (BAT,CM) cells that continu ously produce bovine leukemia virus (BLV) were found to cause malignan t tumors in nude mice. Uninfected bat lung cells (Tb 1 Lu) produced a small benign neoplasm. Pulse chase studies showed that the p53 gene pr oduct in BAT(2)CL6 cells was more stable compared with p53 in Tb 1 Lu cells. Mono-clonal antibody studies suggested that a mutant form of th e p53 protein was produced in BLV-infected cells. Heteroduplex mapping studies of the p53 gene from BLV-infected cells also suggested that a mutation in p53 had occurred. Stabilization of the p53 gene product i n BLV-infected cells may contribute to the progression of tumor virule nce.