Retroviral Integration in Murine Myeloid Tumors to Identify Evi-1, A Novel Locus Encoding A Zinc-Finger Protein

Abstract

This chapter describes the status of recombinant inbred (RI) strains as model systems for identifying novel genes involved in the hematopoietic disease, such as ecotropic viral integration site-1 (Evi-1). The chapter discusses Evi-1 and its relationship to other members of the zinc-finger protein family. A common viral integration site, Evi-1 was identified in myeloid tumors of AKXD-23 recombinant inbred (RI) mice. Evi-1 identifies a novel locus that encodes a zinc-finger protein. DNAs from cell lines established from myeloid tumors that arose in virus-infected NFS/N or NFS/N hybrid mice were screened for rearrangements in the Evi-1 locus. Results indicated that Myb and Evi-1 gene products cooperate in inducing the myeloid disease. The AKXD RI strains were derived by crossing mice from two inbred strains that differed significantly in lymphoma incidence: AKR/J and DBA/2J. The low level of virus expression in DBA/2J mice is an important factor contributing to the low tumor incidence in this strain. © 1990 Academic Press Inc.