The Moloney murine sarcoma virus is a type of virus that causes tumors in mice. It is named after its discoverer, J. Michael Bishop, who identified it in the early 1970s. The word "Moloney" is pronounced /məˈloʊni/, with the stress on the second syllable. "Murine" is pronounced /mjʊəˈraɪn/, with the stress on the first syllable. "Sarcoma" is pronounced /sɑrˈkoʊmə/, with the stress on the second syllable. The word "virus" is pronounced /ˈvaɪrəs/. The IPA phonetic transcription helps to accurately spell out the pronunciation of each word in the phrase.
Moloney murine sarcoma virus (Mo-MuSV) is a type of retrovirus that primarily infects mice and has been widely studied as a model for understanding cancer development and genetic manipulation in animal models.
Mo-MuSV belongs to the class of oncoviruses, which are viruses that have the potential to cause cancer. It was first discovered in the mid-1960s in a mouse sarcoma tumor. The virus induces the formation of tumors, particularly fibrosarcomas, by altering the genetic material of cells it infects.
The genome of Mo-MuSV consists of a single-stranded RNA molecule that is reverse transcribed into DNA upon entering the host cell. This DNA is then integrated into the host genome, leading to the expression of viral genes and disruption of normal cellular processes.
One of the key features of Mo-MuSV is its ability to transform normal cells into cancerous cells. This transformation is mainly mediated by the viral oncogene v-src, which is responsible for the abnormal cell growth and division seen in infected cells. The v-src protein produced by Mo-MuSV acts as a potent tyrosine kinase, causing uncontrolled cell proliferation and promoting tumor formation.
Mo-MuSV has been instrumental in advancing our understanding of oncogenes and cancer biology. Studies using Mo-MuSV as a model have contributed greatly to the development of gene therapy approaches and the identification of novel therapeutic targets for various types of cancers.