CANDIDATE RAT-SPECIFIC GENE-PRODUCT OF THE KIRSTEN MURINE SARCOMA-VIRUS

Anaerobic stress has been shown to induce normal, uninfected rat cells to express high concentrations of those rat cell RNA sequences (MSV-rat RNA) also present in the Kirsten murine sarcoma virus (KiMSV) genome. We find this stress-induced RNA as complete, functional mRNA. We have reacted antibodies directed against uninfected rat cells induced to express this genetic information, with non-rat cells expressing this same (rat) genetic information as a result of KiMSV infection. An antigen of 35,000 molecular weight was detected in the KiMSV-infected cells, and was also observed induced by anaerobic stress of uninfected rat cells. This antigen is not present in cells infected with transforming gene mutants of KiMSV, or in cells transformed by a variety of agents other than KiMSV. The 35,000 molecular weight polypeptide is found as a native complex of molecular weight about 135,000 and copurifies with lactate dehydrogenase activity. © 1979.