THE INFLUENCE OF AN ARBOVIRUS INFECTION ON HOST-CELL RIBONUCLEIC ACID AND PROTEIN SYSTHESIS,
Abstract
The results show that protein synthesis and ribonucleic acid synthesis are indeed affected by this virus infection. During the incubation period of the disease liver protein synthesis was markedly diminished but returned to normal levels before severe illness occurred. Although this virus manifests its virulence by means of central nervous system involvement, protein synthesis in the brain was not altered measurably during the infection. In L-cells the virus infection depressed protein and ribonucleic acid synthesis early during infection and subsequently returned to normal levels when mature virus was released. The data indicated that the virus interfered directly with the host protein-synthesizing mechanism, and that the activity of the host, nuclear RNA-polymerase was inhibited during the infection. While overall protein synthesis was depressed a new host enzyme was synthesized in the cytoplasm of infected cells which is involved in the formation of new viral ribonucleic acid. Several parameters required for optimal enzyme activity have been determined for this induced, cytoplasmic RNA-polymerase of L-cells. Further purification of the enzyme has not been possible because of its labile nature. Thus far we have been unable to demonstrate the presence of this enzyme in tissues of VEE virus infected mice. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1966
- Accession Number
- AD0634620
Entities
People
- George Lust