Analysis of the fusion of XC cells induced by homogenates of murine leukemia virus-infected cells and by purified murine leukemia virus.

The fusion of XC cells induced by murine leukemia virus (MuLV)-infected cells is also induced by homogenates prepared from the infected cells and by purified MuLV. The fusion-inducing factor appears to contain a heat-labile lipoprotein. No synthesis of specific macromolecules by the XC cells is necessary to obtain fusion. The results suggest that specific components of the viral particle are the activators for the fusion process and they may also be present in the membranes of infected cells.