Leukemia viruses associated with mouse myeloma cells.

Myeloma cells derived from BALB/c and C3H mice show evidence of infection by a murine leumemia virus. The immunoglobulin-producing myelomas secrete an RNA-containing virus with a density of 1.20 to 1.22 gm/cm(3). RNA with a sedimentation coefficient of 74 S in 0.1 M sodium sodium chloride has been isolated from secreted virus particles and has a base composition similar to that found for other murine leukemia virus RNA. An intracellular virus particle has been partially purified and has a density of 1.29 to 1.32 gm/cm(3). Both extracellular and intracellular virus particles contain the leukemia virus group-specific antigen.