The characterization of HIV-1 (HTLV-III/LAV), the human retrovirus associated with AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) has led to the identification of a group of related human and simian retroviruses which also infect CD4-bearing T lymphocytes. Simian T-lymphotropic virus type III (simian immodeficiency virus) from macaques (STLV-IIIMAC) induces symptoms similar to those of AIDS in infected macaques, but isolates from African green monkeys (STLV-IIIAGM) and mangabeys (STLV-IIMM) appear to be non-pathogenic in these animals. A human virus immunologically related to STLV-IIIAGM (HTLV-IV), reported to have been isolated from healthy humans, has been shown to be almost identical to STLV-IIIAGM, which has called into question the independent origin of these viruses. Here we report the complete DNA sequence of STLV-IIIAGM and analyse its relationship with the genomes of the HTLV-IIIB strain of HIV-1, HIV-2ROD (previously called LAV-2) and several ungulate lentiretroviruses. STLV-IIIAGM and HIV-2 are closely related, and more distantly related to HIV-1.

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A highly active and stable DNA polymerase was found in purified preparations of two murine sarcoma viruses. Enzyme activity is not detected in most virus preparations unless they are treated with low concentrations of a nonionic detergent such as Nonidet P-40. The incorporation of labeled thymidine triphosphate requires all four deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates and either Mg 2+ or Mn 2+ . Enzyme activity is proportional to virus concentration and is linear with time up to 90 min. That the template is RNA is suggested by the reduction in polymerase activity upon treatment of murine sarcoma virus with RNase, and by the absence of detectable amounts of DNA in the virus. That the product is DNA is shown by the incorporation of all four deoxyribo-nucleoside triphosphates into an acid-insoluble product which is stable in alkali, is destroyed by DNase, sediments in alkaline sucrose gradients with a sedimentation coefficient of 7 S, and bands in isopycnic CsCl gradients with a mean buoyant density of 1.700.

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