Virus of Avian Myeloblastosis (BAI Strain A). XXIV. Nucleotide Composition of the Pentosenucleic Acid and Comparison with Strain R (Erythroblastosis)

Summary

Analyses were made of the nucleotide composition of the pentosenucleic acids of the BAI strain A (myeloblastosis) and strain R (erythroblastosis) avian tumor viruses purified from the blood plasma of birds with myeloblastosis and erythroblastosis, respectively. The BAI strain A differed from strain R especially in the content of guanylic acid. There was a still greater difference between these agents and the Rous virus from tissue culture studied by other investigators. The nucleotide composition of strains BAI A, R, and Rous obtained from these sources differed greatly from the analogous constitution of myeloblasts and other avian cells as well as that of Rous virus preparation from solid tissue tumors. Concentrates from normal chicken plasma did not contain pentosenucleic acid in amounts sufficient to detract from the results with the BAI A and R strains. The findings suggest real differences between these avian tumor virus strains in biochemical constitution.