Transformation parameters of chicken embryo fibroblasts infected with the ts34 mutant of avian erythroblastosis virus

A mutant of avian erythroblastosis virus, ts34 AEV, previously shown to be temperature sensitive for the maintenance of erythroblast transformation, was examined for its effect on the expression of transformation parameters in chicken embryo fibroblasts. Focus formation and growth of colonies in semisolid agar as well as the disarrangement of actin cables and of LETS protein fibrils were not affected by the incubation of infected cells at 41°. In contrast, plasminogen activator protease, rate of hexose uptake, and sarcomagenicity were found to be expressed in a temperature-dependent manner. Our results suggest that the same gene required for the transformation of erythroblasts by AEV is also required for the transformation of fibroblasts.