Mapping of a neurovirulence determinant within the envelope protein of a polytropic murine retrovirus: induction of central nervous system disease by low levels of virus.

Murine leukemia virus (MuLV) clone Fr98 is a recombinant polytropic virus that causes neurological disease characterized by ataxia in susceptible mouse strains. The envelope gene of Fr98 has been previously shown to encode at least two separate neurovirulence determinants. In the present study, the determinant encoded within the EcoRI/AvrII fragment of the envelope gene was further defined. In these experiments, neurovirulence was associated with a change from a serine to an arginine at position 195 and a glycine to an alanine at position 198 within the envelope protein. Neurovirulent and nonvirulent virus clones, which differed only at these two amino acid residues, showed no difference in the type or location of cells infected. Furthermore, equivalent levels of viral p30 capsid protein were detected in the brains of mice infected with either the neurovirulent or nonvirulent virus clones. These results were consistent with the interpretation that the envelope protein of the neurovirulent virus differed from that of the nonvirulent virus by having a greater toxic effect on central nervous system function.