Association of the src gene product of Rous sarcoma virus with cytoskeletal structures of chicken embryo fibroblasts.

We have prepared cytoskeletons from normal and Rous sarcoma virus-transformed cells by extraction with nonionic detergents in a buffered salt solution designed to preserve the structure as it exists in vivo. Virtually all of the phosphoprotein pp60src in the cell is bound to such cytoskeletons. Furthermore, when these cytoskeletons are incubated in situ with gamma-32PATP, pp60src is phosphorylated. Labeling of other apparently transformation-specific cytoskeletons phosphoproteins is also observed. These results directly demonstrate an association between pp60src and elements of the cytoskeleton and suggest that pp60src may exert at least some of its effects as a consequence of its interaction with this cellular framework.