Helper factor(s) for growth of adeno-associated virus in cells transformed by adenovirus 12.

Evidence is presented that a helper factor(s) for growth of adeno-associated virus (AAV) is present in cells transformed by adenovirus type 12 (Ad12). The growth of AAV was observed in heterokaryons formed by fusion of human KB and Ad12-transformed rodent cells by using ultraviolet-inactivated Sendai virus without coinfection of cells with adenovirus. The presence of the helper factor(s) for AAV growth in rat cells transformed by the EcoRI-C fragment or the HindIII-G fragment of Ad12DNA suggests that the helper factor(s) induced by infection with adenovirus is the Ad12-specific T antigen.