Demonstration of T antigens on the surface of cells transformed with primate polyoma viruses

Primate polyoma virus-transformed hamster, mouse, and rat cell lines were examined by indirect immunofluorescence staining for cell surface-associated T antigens, by using a rabbit antiserum prepared against sodium dodecyl sulfate-denatured large T antigen of simian virus 40 (anti-SV40-SDS-T serum). Positive surface staining was shown not only on SV40-transformed cells, but also on BK and JC virus-transformed cells. In contrast, normal cells and cells transformed with mouse polyoma-, human adeno-, and murine sarcoma viruses were negative. The data on SV40-transformed cells confirmed the reports of others demonstrating the cell surface location of SV40 large T antigen, and the data on BK and JC virus-transformed cells proved that these cells have cell-surface T antigens that cross-react with anti-SV40-SDS-T serum.