Differences in sequences encoding the carboxyl-terminal domain of the epidermal growth factor receptor correlate with differences in the disease potential of viral erbB genes.

Eleven recently isolated erbB-transducing viruses as well as avian erythroblastosis virus (AEV)-R (ES4) and AEV-H have been characterized for the type of disease they cause, their ability to transform fibroblasts in culture, their ability to cause disease in pedigrees of chicken that differ in susceptibility to erbB-induced erythroblastosis, and the structure of their erbB genes. Differences in each of the biological parameters correlated with differences in erbB sequences encoding the C-terminal domain of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Seven viruses were strain restricted in their ability to induce erythroblastosis and did not transform fibroblasts. These seven viruses contained v-erbB genes encoding the complete C terminus of the EGFR. AEV-R and AEV-H were not pedigree restricted in their ability to induce erythroblastosis and could transform fibroblasts. These viruses contain v-erbB genes that lack codons for the immediate C terminus of the EGFR. Three viruses caused angiosarcoma and one caused fibrosarcoma. The angiosarcoma and fibrosarcoma-inducing viruses were not strain restricted and did not cause erythroblastosis. The v-erbB genes of each of these viruses contained extensive internal deletions or 3' truncations in sequences encoding the C-terminal domain of the EGFR.