A New Genetic Locus, Bevi, on Human Chromosome 6 Which Controls the Replication of Baboon Type C Virus in Human Cells

Somatic cell hybrids derived from seven independent fusions between mouse X human and hamster X human parental cells were examined for their ability to support the replication of the baboon endogenous type C virus. These hybrids preferentially segregated human chromosomes while retaining rodent chromosomes, as demonstrated by karyotypic and isozyme analysis. A total of 41 primary colonies and 33 secondary subclones were analyzed for viral replication, as well as for the presence of enzyme structural gene markers for 19 of 23 human chromosomes. A syntenic association was seen between the ability of the baboon type C virus to infect and replicate in hybrid cultures and the expression of human malic enzyme-1 (assigned to human chromosome 6). Analysis of 86 highly segregated subclones derived from cells preinfected with baboon type C virus showed that the continued production of baboon type C virus segregated concordantly with the expression of three enzyme genes assigned to human chromosome 6 (malic enzyme-1, phosphoglucomutase-3 and superoxide dismutase-2). Subclones of infected hybrids which lost chromosome 6 and failed to release virus also failed to synthesize the virus-coded major structural protein p30. No syntenic association between baboon virus expression and any of 18 other human chromosomes was observed. These studies define a new gene (designated Bevi) on human chromosome 6 which dominantly controls the replication of baboon type C virus. The data suggest that Bevi may be a preferred integration site for the baboon type C DNA provirus in the human genome