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Mechanism of inhibition of reovirus replication by interferon

Journal Article · · Virology; (United States)
Experiments were carried out to identify the reovirus function that is the primary target for inhibition in interferon-treated cells. The two earliest functions, adsorption and conversion of parental virions to subviral particles, were completely resistant to interferon. The transcription of early messenger RNA was slightly sensitive; the transcription of all 10 species of single-stranded RNA was inhibited by 15 to 25 percent at 75 PRD/sub 50//ml and by 50 to 60 percent at 300 PRD/sub 50//ml interferon. No RNA species of abnormal size were detected in interferon-treated cells. Subviral particles isolated from cells treated with 300 PRD/sub 50//ml interferon transcribed RNA as actively as subviral particles isolated from normal cells. The translation of early messenger RNA was inhibited much more severely, the degree of inhibition for the individual messenger RNA species ranging from 36 to 72 percent at 75 PRD/sub 50//ml interferon. The most sensitive species was that which codes for polypeptide lambda 1. Three late functions, namely, the formation of progeny double-stranded RNA, the transcription of late messenger RNA, and the formation of infectious progeny, were all about as sensitive (75 to 90 percent inhibition at 75 PRD/sub 50//ml interferon) as the translation of polypeptide lambda 1. This polypeptide is a constituent of double-stranded RNA-synthesizing structures, without the formation of which no late reovirus functions can be expressed. The results supported the conclusion that the reason why the replication of reovirus is inhibited in cells treated with interferon is that in such cells the translation of early reovirus mRNA, particularly that which codes for polypeptide lambda 1, is suppressed.
Research Organization:
Duke Univ. Medical Center, Durham, NC
OSTI ID:
7365195
Journal Information:
Virology; (United States), Journal Name: Virology; (United States) Vol. 66:1; ISSN VIRLA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English