Antibody-independent detection of virus-specific glycoprotein synthesis is oncornavirus-infected cells

A method is described for detecting the synthesis of avian and murine oncornavirus-specific glycoproteins without the use of antibodies raised against viral structural proteins. As applied to cells infected with avian tumor virus, the method served to resolve pr90, the precursor of the major envelope glycoprotein. A virus-specific glycoprotein of about 85,000 daltons, which has several properties expected to a precursor to gp69/71, was detected in cells infected with murine leukemia virus.