Viral src gene products are related to the catalytic chain of mammalian cAMP-dependent protein kinase.

The transforming protein sequences translated from the Rous avian and Moloney murine sarcoma virus src genes are shown to be related to the catalytic chain of bovine cAMP-dependent protein kinase (ATP:protein phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.37). The avian transforming protein, also a protein kinase, shows greatest homology with the bovine protein kinase in the carboxyl-terminal half, where the protein kinase activity is localized. Moreover, lysine occurs in the inferred transforming protein sequences at the position homologous with the proposed ATP-binding lysine of the bovine protein kinase. This relationship is consistent with the hypothesis that the src genes originated in the host genomes, in which they are members of a superfamily of distantly related protein kinases that are normal constituents of mammalian cells. In the host, these sequences are much more highly conserved than in the viruses.