Biomaterial Database

Burkitt's tumors contain particles encapsulating RNA-instructed DNA polymerase and high molecular weight virus-related RNA. 1973

D Kufe, and I T Magrath, and J L Ziegler, and S Spiegelman

Burkitt's lymphomas, linked by previous studies with the DNA-containing Epstein-Barr virus, contain an RNA related in sequence to that of Rauscher leukemia virus. The present study establishes that the viral-related RNA found in Burkitt's tumors is a 70S component encapsulated with RNA-instructed DNA polymerase in a particle possessing a density characteristic of RNA tumor viruses. Further, the DNA synthesized by the Burkitt particles hybridizes specifically to the RNA of Rauscher leukemia virus. Thus, four features characteristic of a known oncogenic RNA agent are also exhibited by particles found with a high (87%) frequency in Burkitt's tumors. The relation between the RNA particle and the Epstein-Barr virus and their etiological roles remains to be elucidated. However, relevant to these issues is the finding reported here that the presence of Epstein-Barr virus information in nonneoplastic cells does not lead to the production of the RNA particles that have been detected now in three different human neoplasias, including leukemias, breast cancer, and Burkitt's disease.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007244	Infectious Mononucleosis	A common, acute infection usually caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (HERPESVIRUS 4, HUMAN). There is an increase in mononuclear white blood cells and other atypical lymphocytes, generalized lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly, and occasionally hepatomegaly with hepatitis.	Glandular Fever,Mononucleosis, Infectious,Fever, Glandular
D008970	Molecular Weight	The sum of the weight of all the atoms in a molecule.	Molecular Weights,Weight, Molecular,Weights, Molecular
D009693	Nucleic Acid Hybridization	Widely used technique which exploits the ability of complementary sequences in single-stranded DNAs or RNAs to pair with each other to form a double helix. Hybridization can take place between two complimentary DNA sequences, between a single-stranded DNA and a complementary RNA, or between two RNA sequences. The technique is used to detect and isolate specific sequences, measure homology, or define other characteristics of one or both strands. (Kendrew, Encyclopedia of Molecular Biology, 1994, p503)	Genomic Hybridization,Acid Hybridization, Nucleic,Acid Hybridizations, Nucleic,Genomic Hybridizations,Hybridization, Genomic,Hybridization, Nucleic Acid,Hybridizations, Genomic,Hybridizations, Nucleic Acid,Nucleic Acid Hybridizations
D011925	Rauscher Virus	A strain of MURINE LEUKEMIA VIRUS associated with mouse tumors similar to those caused by the FRIEND MURINE LEUKEMIA VIRUS. It is a replication-competent murine leukemia virus. It can act as a helper virus when complexing with a defective transforming component, RAUSCHER SPLEEN FOCUS-FORMING VIRUS.	Rauscher leukemia virus,Rauscher leukemia viruses,Virus, Rauscher,leukemia viruses, Rauscher
D002051	Burkitt Lymphoma	A form of undifferentiated malignant LYMPHOMA usually found in central Africa, but also reported in other parts of the world. It is commonly manifested as a large osteolytic lesion in the jaw or as an abdominal mass. B-cell antigens are expressed on the immature cells that make up the tumor in virtually all cases of Burkitt lymphoma. The Epstein-Barr virus (HERPESVIRUS 4, HUMAN) has been isolated from Burkitt lymphoma cases in Africa and it is implicated as the causative agent in these cases; however, most non-African cases are EBV-negative.	African Lymphoma,Burkitt Cell Leukemia,Burkitt Tumor,Lymphoma, Burkitt,Burkitt Leukemia,Burkitt's Leukemia,Burkitt's Lymphoma,Burkitt's Tumor,Leukemia, Lymphoblastic, Burkitt-Type,Leukemia, Lymphocytic, L3,Lymphocytic Leukemia, L3,Burkitts Leukemia,Burkitts Lymphoma,Burkitts Tumor,L3 Lymphocytic Leukemia,L3 Lymphocytic Leukemias,Leukemia, Burkitt,Leukemia, Burkitt Cell,Leukemia, Burkitt's,Leukemia, L3 Lymphocytic,Lymphoma, African,Lymphoma, Burkitt's,Tumor, Burkitt,Tumor, Burkitt's
D002499	Centrifugation, Density Gradient	Separation of particles according to density by employing a gradient of varying densities. At equilibrium each particle settles in the gradient at a point equal to its density. (McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 4th ed)	Centrifugations, Density Gradient,Density Gradient Centrifugation,Density Gradient Centrifugations,Gradient Centrifugation, Density,Gradient Centrifugations, Density
D004247	DNA	A deoxyribonucleotide polymer that is the primary genetic material of all cells. Eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms normally contain DNA in a double-stranded state, yet several important biological processes transiently involve single-stranded regions. DNA, which consists of a polysugar-phosphate backbone possessing projections of purines (adenine and guanine) and pyrimidines (thymine and cytosine), forms a double helix that is held together by hydrogen bonds between these purines and pyrimidines (adenine to thymine and guanine to cytosine).	DNA, Double-Stranded,Deoxyribonucleic Acid,ds-DNA,DNA, Double Stranded,Double-Stranded DNA,ds DNA
D004273	DNA, Neoplasm	DNA present in neoplastic tissue.	Neoplasm DNA
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012194	RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase	An enzyme that synthesizes DNA on an RNA template. It is encoded by the pol gene of retroviruses and by certain retrovirus-like elements. EC 2.7.7.49.	DNA Polymerase, RNA-Directed,RNA-Dependent DNA Polymerase,Reverse Transcriptase,RNA Transcriptase,Revertase,DNA Polymerase, RNA Directed,DNA Polymerase, RNA-Dependent,RNA Dependent DNA Polymerase,RNA Directed DNA Polymerase