Characterization of the feline c- abl proto-oncogene

Abstract

Analysis of total feline DNA by genomic blot hybridization, using the viral oncogene of Abelson murine leukemia virus as a specific probe, has led to the identification of multiple v- abl homologous genetic sequences in the cat genome. Upon restriction endonuclease BamHI digestion, the combined size of the v- abl homologous DNA fragments was about 31 kbp. To characterize these sequences further, four independent v- abl homologous cosmid clones with overlapping cellular inserts have been isolated from a gene library of cat lung genomic DNA. These inserts represent a contiguous region of cellular DNA sequences of 56 kbp in length. Within this region of the feline genome, the v- abl homologous sequences are discontinuously dispersed over a region of about 34 kbp. They represent the complete feline v- abl cellular homolog and are colinear with the viral v- abl oncogene. Nine regions of highly repetitive DNA sequences have been mapped in close proximity to v- abl homologous sequences. These results establish the presence of only a single c- abl proto-oncogene in the cat genome and present its genetic organization.