[Separation of cellular and viral DNA polymerase from oncornavirus infected chicken cells]

RNA-directed DNA polymerase was isolated from the liver, spleen, and myeloblasts of chickens that had been infected with virus of avian myeloblastosis. The enzyme was chromatographically purified from the myeloblasts and brought to about 1,000-fold concentration. The method consisted in cell fractionation, lysis of the microsomal fraction, chromatography on Sephadex G-200 and phosphocellulose, as well as ultracentrifugation in the glycerol gradient. The cellular DNA polymerases alpha and beta were clearly separated from the DNA polymerase of avian myeloblastosis virus and could be distinguished from one another by template-specific reactions. The viral DNA polymerase activities in the microsomal fractions of liver, spleen, and myeloblasts were compared with one another. The amount of avian myeloblastosis virus and related DNA polymerase recorded from the myeloblasts was about six times that in the liver and four times higher than that in the spleen. The procedure described, together with the use of cell fractionation and gel filtration, is an appropriate method for biochemical detection of avian oncorna viruses in cells.