Isolation of polyomavirus-induced surface antigens of mouse cells: affinity chromatography and biologic activities.

Tumor-specific transplantation antigen (TSTA) and polyomavirus-induced tumor-associated surface antigen (TASA) were isolated from polyomavirus-transformed BALB/c mouse cells with the use of 3-M KCl solubilization and affinity chromatography on antibody-coated Sepharose 4B. Particular conditions were chosen for removal of the nonspecifically bound proteins from the gel. Under these conditions, the ratio between the amounts of crude extract and specifically bound proteins giving the same TASA activity was about 5,000. Mice inoculated with this material were protected against tumor challenge. We therefore assume that TSTA is a part of TASA. Furthermore, these antigens can be dissociated from the major histocompatibility antigens.