Biological and Biochemical Changes in the Plasma Membrane of RNA Tumor Virus-Transformed Cells

Investigation of the process of cell transformation to malignancy by viruses has been considered for many years now as the most potent approach for elucidating the molecular mechanisms leading to the conversion of cells from normal to malignant patterns of growth. Cells can be transformed by viruses, especially RNA viruses, under strictly reproducible conditions within a short period of time, i.e., 24 h or less. The structure and the replication of these viruses is fairly well understood. Likewise, the genetic makeup and even the gene order of several tumor viruses is known. A gene called “onc” has been identified in avian RNA tumor viruses that does not appear to be involved in the virus replication but rather seems to be specific for the transformation (1, 2).