Reverse transciptase activity associated with R-type virus-like particles of SV40-transformed hamster cells (TSV5 clone 2).

A line of hamster cells transformed by SV40 (TSV5 clone 2) contains different DNA polymerase activities. One of them has the same template specificity as viral reverse transcriptases. Partial isolation of R-type virus-like particles from TSV5 clone 2 shows that a reverse transcriptase activity is associated with these RNA viruses. This reverse transcriptase was partially purified and its biochemical properties are described.