Avian tumor virus interactions with chicken fibroblast plasma membranes.

A method is described which will rapidly measure the binding of avian tumor viruses (ATV) to plasma membrane receptors. With this procedure it may be shown that Rous sarcoma virus pseudotypes bind to protease-labile, heat-stable structures on the surface of chicken embryo fibroblast (CEF) plasma membranes. The binding sites for ATV subgroups A and B appear distinct, and membranes from genetically resistant CEF bind as well those of sensitive CEF.