Presence of the p27 antigenicity and absence of the gp52 antigenicity and leukemia virus antigens in intracytoplasmic A particles (iAp) of mouse mammary tumour origin.

Using the Ouchterlony immunodiffusion method and indirect immunofluorescence tests on tissue slices the antigenic structure of iAp of mouse mammary tumour origin has further been investigated. Antisera against iAp, MTV-B particles, B particle polypeptide p27 and glycoprotein gp52, and leukemia C-type particles were used in these studies. The most prominent antigen of iAp in mammary tumours was found to be identical to the p27 antigen of B particles. This finding was not unexpected in view of recently published data by other authors showing the presence of p27 in iAp of leukemia cells and Leydig cell tumours. The p27 polypeptide is considered to be a group-specific antigen of mouse mammary tumour viruses associated with iAp of different tissue sources and inner structural components of mature B particles. On the other hand, the gp52 antigen and leukemia virus antigens were shown to be absent from iAp of mammary carcinomas. Therefore, the assumption is confirmed that the gp52 glycoprotein represents a group-specific antigen of B type viruses, presumably located at the virion surface. The failure to demonstrate leukemia virus antigens in iAp supports the suggestion that this kind of particles is not related to C type viruses.