Differential adsorption of polyoma virions and capsids to mouse kidney cells and guinea pig erythrocytes

Adsorption of 125I-labeled polyoma virions and capsids to the surface of mouse kidney cells (MKC) and guinea pig erythrocytes was examined. Purified polyoma capsids lack the ability to compete with polyoma virions for specific binding sites on the surface of MKC. These same capsids were, however, able to block virion adsorption to guinea pig erythrocytes. UV-inactivated virions blocked cellular receptors on MKC and thus inhibited infectious virions from infecting the cells. Capsids were unable to inhibit virion infection of MKC. Adsorption of polyoma virions to MKC and infection of these cells were found to be independent of the ability of the virions to agglutinate guinea pig erythrocytes.