JC virus T protein expression in owl monkey tumor cell lines.

Four owl monkey tumor cell lines were tested for the presence of JCV early gene products. Owl 26 was the only cell line in which large T protein could be immunoprecipitated using cross-reactive anti-SV40 hamster tumor sera. Small t protein could not be detected in any of the four cell lines. The monoclonal antibody Cl 122, directed against the host-cell 53K protein, could bind the SV40-T-53K host protein complex in human embryonic kidney cells transformed by SV40. However, the Cl 122 antibody only reacted with a 53K protein in Owl 26 not complexed with the JCV T protein.