Genetic control of a mouse serum lipoprotein factor that inactivates murine leukemia viruses: evaluation of apolipoprotein F as a candidate.

Mice contain a serum factor capable of inactivating some subgroups of murine leukemia viruses. This leukemia virus-inactivating factor (LVIF) is distinct from immunoglobulin and complement; it has been associated with lipoprotein serum fractions and may be an apolipoprotein. The present study demonstrates that some Swiss-derived inbred strains are LVIF negative. Genetic crosses show this factor to be under control of a single gene that maps to distal chromosome 10 at or near the gene encoding a minor serum apolipoprotein, apolipoprotein F (ApoF). To evaluate this gene as a potential candidate for LVIF, the mouse ApoF gene was cloned and sequenced and its expression was assessed in LVIF-positive and -negative mice; no obvious differences were detected, suggesting that LVIF is under the control of a distinct linked gene.