A procedure for radioimmunoassay of the major glyco

For studies of the distribution and synthesis of the mouse MuMTV,2 we have found it necessary to detect small quanti ties of virus-related materials in a large background of unne lated materials. There have been several reports of madioim munoassays for MuMTV, based either on whole (1) on dis nupted (19) virus and purified components (11, 12). In our studies of these assay techniques, we have attempted to characterize the reaction in detail and to define the paname tens for optimum sensitivity. We have concentrated on a single antigen assay, using a highly purified MuMTV glyco protein, gp55. We have also investigated possible sources of errors in the assay and have obtained information that will, we feel, be of value to others who are developing such systems.