Intramolecular recombinations of Moloney murine leukemia virus occur during minus-strand DNA synthesis.

Retroviral recombination can occur between two viral RNA molecules (intermolecular) or between two sequences within the same RNA molecule (intramolecular). The rate of retroviral intramolecular recombination is high. Previous studies showed that, after a single round of replication, 50 to 60% of retroviral recombinations occur between two identical sequences within a Moloney murine leukemia virus-based vector. Recombination can occur at any polymerization step within the retroviral replication cycle. Although reverse transcriptase is assumed to contribute to the template switches, previous studies could not distinguish between changes introduced by host RNA polymerase II (Pol II) or by reverse transcriptase. A cell culture system has been established to detect the individual contribution of host RNA Pol II, host DNA polymerase or viral reverse transcriptase, as well as the recombination events taking place during minus-strand DNA synthesis and plus-strand DNA synthesis in a single round of viral intramolecular replication. Studies in this report demonstrate that intramolecular recombination between two identical sequences during transcription by host RNA Pol II is minimal and that most recombinations occur during minus-strand DNA synthesis catalyzed by viral reverse transcriptase.