Interactions of murine leukemia virus core components: characterization of reverse transcriptase packaged in the absence of 70S genomic RNA.

Virions produced by cells in the presence of actinomycin D (Act D virions) contain reverse transcriptase but are deficient in 70S genomic RNA. To assess the role of genomic RNA in encapsidation of a functional reverse transcriptase and to study the interaction of the enzyme and its template in the cores of intact virions, the reverse transcriptase enzymes of normal and Act D virions were compared. The enzymes were indistinguishable by column chromatography, sedimentation velocity, or template/primer preferences. In addition, these enzymes showed equal sensitivity to inactivation by antibodies directed against Rauscher murine leukemia virus DNA polymerase. The enzymes from Act D and normal virions had similar thermal decay rates and were both protected against heat denaturation by natural and synthetic template/primers. By these criteria, the DNA polymerase molecules synthesized and assembled into virions in the absence of genomic RNA are identical to those packaged under normal conditions. Additional studies designed to measure protection of reverse transcriptase by genomic RNA were carried out by comparing the thermal lability of the enzyme in intact Act D and normal virions. The thermal decay rate of reverse transcriptase in Act D virions was identical to that in control virions. In contrast to the lability of the virion-associated enzyme, however, genomic RNA in control virions was stable to heat treatment.