Deoxyribonucleic acid polymerase activity associated with strain MC29 tumor virus.

Chick embryo cells infected with strain MC29 tumor virus yielded progeny virus that contained detectable deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) polymerase within the first 48 hr after infection. The noninfected culture fluids displayed no such enzyme activity when examined in an identical manner. Enzyme activity was greatly stimulated by adding DNA template to the reaction mixture and required all four deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates for full activity. When calf thymus DNA was used to direct synthesis, the DNA polymerase from the MC29 virus catalyzed the formation of DNA product having a higher buoyant density in CsCl. DNA product formed in the reaction directed by Micrococcus lysodeikticus DNA had the same buoyant density as the template DNA.