Dephosphorylation of Adenosine Triphosphate by Concentrates of the Virus of Avian Erythromyeloblastic Leucosis.

Abstract

A highly potent capacity for the de-phosphorylation of adenosine triphosphate was observed with prepns. containing the virus of avian erythromyeloblastic leucosis. This enzymatic reaction occurred with the filtered plasma of birds diseased with the virus and with virus concentrates obtained from the plasma by ultracentrifugal procedures. The partition of enzymatic activity in these prepns. has closely paralleled the distribution of virus infectivity of analogous materials measured in other work by titration of the virus in susceptible host chicks. No evidence of the reaction was obtained with the plasma from normal chickens. These expts. demonstrate the specific relationship of the dephos-phorylation of adenosine triphosphate with avian erythromyeloblastic leucosis and indicate that the activity is a property of the etiological virus.