Avian myelocytomatosis and erythroblastosis viruses lack the transforming gene src of avian sarcoma viruses.

Using labeled cDNA specific for the detection of the src gene of avian sarcoma viruses, we find that avian myelocytomatosis virus strain MC29 and avian erythroblastosis virus strain ES4 lack nucleotide sequences related to the src gene. Furthermore, chicken fibroblasts as well as hematopoietic cells, infected and transformed with these viruses, show no enhanced level of transcription of the cellular nucleotide sequences related to the src gene of avian sarcoma viruses. These two viruses may thus contain their own transforming gene(s) or induce cellular genes unrelated to the src-like cellular sequences.