Demonstration of a cell-surface antigen associated with murine sarcoma virus by immunoelectron microscopy.

Cells transformed by murine sarcoma virus have been examined for the presence of a new virus-associated cell-surface antigen by immunoelectron microscopy. A common antigen has been detected on the surface of nonproductively transformed cells that were induced by two different strains of murine sarcoma virus, Kirsten and Moloney. This antigen shows crossreaction with cell lines transformed by murine sarcoma virus that were produced in two different mammalian species, rats and mice. Further, this antigen is distinct from previously described antigens on the surfaces of cells infected by murine leukemia virus, on the viral envelope, and on the surfaces of spontaneously transformed cell lines or cell lines transformed by x-irradiation.