Virus-specific RNA in selected cell lines derived from RSV-induced tumour.

The presence of virus-specific RNA in mammalian tumour cell lines of RSV aetiology was studied using molecular hybridization between the PR-RSV 3H-DNA probe synthetized by the endogenous RNA-directed DNA polymerase reaction and cellular RNA. It was found that both virogenic XC cells harbouring the full PR-RSV genome and cryptovirogenic RVP3 cells harbouring an incomplete PR-RSV genome contain virus-specific RNA. The degree of homology between such RNA and PR-RSV 3H-DNA probe reached 10--12% in XC cells and 28--30% in RVP3 cells. It was found that RVP3 cells contain larger amounts of virus-specific RNA than XC cells and that it is localized in the gradient zone corresponding to 20--25S.