Double transformation of Indian muntjac cells by avian and murine sarcoma viruses.

Avian sarcoma virus-transformed Indian muntjac cells, SR-Mm-1, formed foci by murine sarcoma-xenotropic murine leukemia virus complex [MSV(X-MuLV)] superinfection. The response of SR-Mm-1 and parental normal Indian muntjac Mm-2K cells to MSV(X-MuLV) infection was compared. Focus formation by MSV(X-MuLV) followed two-hit kinetics in Mm-2K, but one-hit kinetics in SR-Mm-1 cells. MSV(X-MuLV)-infected SR-Mm-1 cells formed larger colonies than uninfected SR-Mm-1 cells in soft agar, while no colony was formed in the MSV(X-MuLV)-infected Mm-2K cells. After infection with MSV(X-MuLV), cell clones doubly transformed by avian and murine sarcoma viruses could be established in SR-Mm-1 cells, whereas no cell clone could be established in Mm-2K cells. The doubly transformed cells were more round and refractile than SR-Mm-1 cells. No specific chromosomal change could be detected among Mm-2K, SR-Mm-1, and the doubly transformed cells. By two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of cellular proteins, several changes were seen between Mm-2K and SR-Mm-1 cells. In MSV(X-MuLV)-infected Mm-2K and SR-Mm-1 cells, several similar changes in polypeptide patterns were seen as compared with uninfected cells. These results indicate that Mm-2K cells were doubly transformed by avian and murine sarcoma viruses, and MSV transformation in SR-Mm-1 cells was different from that in Mm-2K cells.