Cytoplasmic viral DNA synthesis in exogenous infection of murine leukemia virus: effect of interferon and cycloheximide.

Cytoplasmic viral DNA synthesis can be followed efficiently by [3H]thymidine labeling of cells exogenously infected with Moloney murine leukemia virus. Both the negative and the positive strands of viral DNA reached their maximal level in the cytoplasm at 3.5 h postinfection. Interferon treatment before infection markedly reduced the amount of viral DNA formed during the first 3.5 h, but led to a second major wave of viral DNA synthesis, peaking at 7.5 h postinfection. No such late cytoplasmic DNA synthesis occurred in the untreated control. Inhibition of protein synthesis by cycloheximide, on the other hand, stimulated cytoplasmic viral DNA synthesis during the first 3.5 h.     

Chinese hamster ovary cells replicate adenovirus deoxyribonucleic acid.

Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells infected with adenovirus type 2 (Ad2) produced amounts of viral deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) equal to that synthesized in permissively infected HeLa cells. However, there was 6,000-fold less virion produced in CHO cells. Since the structural viral polypeptides were not detected by pulse-labeling CHO cells at various times postinfection, the block in virion formation is located between the synthesis of viral DNA and late proteins. Extracts of CHO cells could also function in a recently reported in vitro Ad2 DNA synthesis system which is dependent upon the addition of exogenous Ad2 DNA covalently linked to a 5'-terminal protein (Ikeda et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 77:5827-5831, 1980). Extracts of infected CHO cytoplasm were able to complement uninfected CHO nuclear extracts to synthesize viral DNA on Ad2 templates. This in vitro replication system has the potential to probe host DNA synthesis requirements as well as viral factors.     

Simian Virus 40-Host Cell Interactions II. Cytoplasmic and Nucleolar Accumulation of Simian Virus 40 Virion Protein

We have used immunofluorescence in parallel with transmission and scanning electron microscopy to characterize the unusual cytoplasmic and nucleolar accumulation of Simian virus 40 (SV40) virion protein (C antigen) at restrictive temperatures (39 to 41 C) in monkey cells infected with a temperature-sensitive mutant of SV40 defective in virion assembly, tsB11. Cytoplasmic and nucleolar accumulation of C antigen did not occur in wild-type-infected cells at any temperature. Wild-type- and tsBll-infected cells were not distinguishable at 33 C by immunofluorescence or electron microscopy. Temperature-shift experiments using metabolic inhibitors of DNA (cytosine arabinonucleoside, 20 mug/ml), RNA (actinomycin D, 5 mug/ml), and protein synthesis (cycloheximide, 2 x 10(-4) to 10 x 10(-4) M) were used to investigate the requirements for ongoing DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis in the distribution of virion protein between the nucleus, nucleolus, and cytoplasm. The transport of C antigen from the nucleolus and cytoplasm into the nucleus was complete after a temperature shift-down (41 and 39 to 33 C). Limited virus particle formation occurred after the shift-down in the presence of actinomycin D and cycloheximide, indicating some of the 39 to 41 C synthesized virion protein could be used for capsid assembly at 33 C in the absence of further virion protein synthesis. Nucleolar and cytoplasmic accumulations of C antigen occurred in the absence of drugs after a shift-up (33 to 39 C and 41 C) indicating a continuous requirement for the tsB11 mutant function. Furthermore, the virion protein synthesized at 33 C remained confined to the nucleus when the cells were shifted to 39 and 41 C in the presence of actinomycin D or cycloheximide. In the presence of cytosine arabinonucleoside, however, the virion protein accumulated in large aggregates in the nucleus and nucleolus after the shift-up, but did not migrate into the cytoplasm as it did in drug-free tsB11-infected control cells. Colchicine (10(-3) M) had no effect on the abnormal accumulation of C antigen during shift-up or shift-down experiments suggesting that microtubular transport plays little if any role in the abnormal transport of tsB11 virion protein from cytoplasm to nucleus. Although virus particles were never observed by electron microscopy and V antigen was not detected by immunofluorescence at 39 or 41 C in tsB11-infected cells, dense amorphous accumulations were formed in the nucleoli and cytoplasm. We suggest that the tsB11 function is continuously required for the normal transport of SV40 virion protein between the cytoplasm, nucleolus, and nucleus and for the assembly of capsids and virions. Several possible mechanisms for the altered tsB11 function or protein are discussed. One of the virion proteins may also be involved in some presently undetermined nucleolar function during SV40 productive infection.     

Hybridization Selection and In Vitro Translation of Autographa californica Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus mRNA

We isolated polyadenylated RNA from the cytoplasm of cells infected with Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus late after infection (21 h postinfection). At that time intracellular protein synthesis was directed almost exclusively toward infected cell-specific proteins. The polyadenylic acid-containing RNA sequences in the cytoplasm at 21 h postinfection were radiolabeled in vitro and hybridized to A. californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus DNA restriction fragments. The polyadenylic acid-containing RNA was derived from regions representing the entire viral genome. Translation in a reticulocyte cell-free protein-synthesizing system of cytoplasmic RNA selected by hybridization to viral DNA and polyadenylic acid-containing RNA produced almost identical polypeptide patterns, suggesting that late after infection almost all of the cytoplasmic polyadenylic acid-containing RNA present in infected cells was of viral origin. Polyhedrin protein (molecular weight, 33,000) and a number of virion structural proteins were among the translation products which were identified by immunoprecipitation and by comparing molecular weights. In addition, some tentative nonstructural infected cell-specific proteins were also detected. Using the hybridization selection technique, we determined that sequences complementary to the message coding for polyhedrin were located on EcoRI fragment I of A. californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus DNA, whereas sequences coding for a putative nonstructural protein (molecular weight, 39,000) were on EcoRI fragment J.     

Synthesis, posttranslational modifications, and nuclear transport of polyomavirus major capsid protein VP1.

Polyomavirus major capsid protein VP1 synthesis was studied in infected primary baby mouse kidney cells. A standard curve of VP1 protein was used to quantitate VP1 in the cytoplasm and nucleus of infected cells during the time course of infection. Polyomavirus VP1 continued to be accumulated in the cytoplasm of the cells until 27 h postinfection, at which time the synthesis of VP1 leveled off. VP1 continued to accumulate in the nucleus of the infected cells throughout the course of infection. The presence of the six isospecies, A to F, of polyomavirus VP1 was also studied to determine the relative quantity of each species during the time course of infection. All six species were found in the cytoplasm and nucleus of infected cells at various times postinfection. However, the relative quantity of each species was different at early as compared with later times of infection. In addition, phosphorylated VP1 was found in isolated polyribosomes of infected cells, suggesting that phosphorylation of VP1 is a cotranslational modification. Examination of the effect of macromolecular synthesis on the transport of VP1 into the nucleus of infected baby mouse kidney cells as well as the rate of its nuclear accumulation during and after protein synthesis inhibition revealed that the continual transport and accumulation of VP1 in the nucleus required protein synthesis.     

Protein synthesized early after infection is linked to the termini of adenovirus type 2 DNA synthesized in vivo and in vitro.

The human adenovirus DNA genome contains a protein (CBP, or covalently bound protein) linked to each 5' terminus. To assess whether CBP is synthesized early, infected cells were incubated with hydroxyurea from 1 to 18 h postinfection, the hydroxyurea was removed, cycloheximide was added, and viral DNA was labeled with [3H]thymidine from 18 to 23 h postinfection. Removal of hydroxyurea at 18 h postinfection permits the synthesis of viral DNA, whereas cycloheximide maintains the block in late viral protein synthesis. Three lines of evidence are presented to show that viral 3H-labeled DNA prepared by this procedure was linked to CBP: (I) the DNA sedimented more rapidly than protein-free DNA (i.e., protinase treated) in neutral sucrose gradients containing guanidine hydrochloride; (ii) the DNA banded at a lower density than protein-free DNA in CsCl gradients containing guanidine hydrochloride; and (iii) neither the 3H-labeled DNA nor the end fragments produced by EcoRI digestion entered a 1.4% agarose gel during electrophoresis. These experiments are strong evidence that CBP is not a product of a late viral gene and is therefore the product of either an early viral gene or a cell gene. Experiments were performed to test whether CBP is attached to viral DNA synthesized in vitro by a soluble complex that synthesizes exclusively viral DNA as completed viral genomes in vitro. In vitro-labeled DNA was analyzed by velocity sedimentation, equilibrium sedimentation, and agarose gel electrophoresis as described above. Our results indicate that the majority of in vitro-synthesized DNA molecules were attached to CBP. These results, which indicate that CBP is synthesized early after infection and is attached to viral DNA labeled in vitro by a soluble replication complex, are consistent with the idea that CBP may play a role in viral DNA replication.     

Coronavirus minus-strand RNA synthesis and effect of cycloheximide on coronavirus RNA synthesis.

The temporal sequence of coronavirus plus-strand and minus-strand RNA synthesis was determined in 17CL1 cells infected with the A59 strain of mouse hepatitis virus (MHV). MHV-induced fusion was prevented by keeping the pH of the medium below pH 6.8. This had no effect on the MHV replication cycle, but gave 5- to 10-fold-greater titers of infectious virus and delayed the detachment of cells from the monolayer which permitted viral RNA synthesis to be studied conveniently until at least 10 h postinfection. Seven species of poly(A)-containing viral RNAs were synthesized at early and late times after infection, in nonequal but constant ratios. MHV minus-strand RNA synthesis was first detected at about 3 h after infection and was found exclusively in the viral replicative intermediates and was not detected in 60S single-stranded form in infected cells. Early in the replication cycle, from 45 to 65% of the [3H]uridine pulse-labeled RF core of purified MHV replicative intermediates was in minus-strand RNA. The rate of minus-strand synthesis peaked at 5 to 6 h postinfection and then declined to about 20% of the maximum rate. The addition of cycloheximide before 3 h postinfection prevented viral RNA synthesis, whereas the addition of cycloheximide after viral RNA synthesis had begun resulted in the inhibition of viral RNA synthesis. The synthesis of both genome and subgenomic mRNAs and of viral minus strands required continued protein synthesis, and minus-strand RNA synthesis was three- to fourfold more sensitive to inhibition by cycloheximide than was plus-strand synthesis.     

Human cytomegalovirus specifically controls the levels of the endoplasmic reticulum chaperone BiP/GRP78, which is required for virion assembly

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) chaperone BiP/GRP78 regulates ER function and the unfolded protein response (UPR). Human cytomegalovirus infection of human fibroblasts induces the UPR but modifies it to benefit viral replication. BiP/GRP78 protein levels are tightly regulated during infection, rising after 36 h postinfection (hpi), peaking at 60 hpi, and decreasing thereafter. To determine the effects of this regulation on viral replication, BiP/GRP78 was depleted using the SubAB subtilase cytotoxin, which rapidly and specifically cleaves BiP/GRP78. Toxin treatment of infected cells for 12-h periods beginning at 36, 48, 60, and 84 hpi caused complete loss of BiP but had little effect on viral protein synthesis. However, progeny virion formation was significantly inhibited, suggesting that BiP/GRP78 is important for virion formation. Electron microscopic analysis showed that infected cells were resistant to the toxin and showed none of the cytotoxic effects seen in uninfected cells. However, all viral activity in the cytoplasm ceased, with nucleocapsids remaining in the nucleus or concentrated in the cytoplasmic space just outside of the outer nuclear membrane. These data suggest that one effect of the controlled expression of BiP/GRP78 in infected cells is to aid in cytoplasmic virion assembly and egress.     

Microtubule reorganization during herpes simplex virus type 1 infection facilitates the nuclear localization of VP22, a major virion tegument protein

Full-length VP22 is necessary for efficient spread of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) from cell to cell during the course of productive infection. VP22 is a virion phosphoprotein, and its nuclear localization initiates between 5 and 7 h postinfection (hpi) during the course of synchronized infection. The goal of this study was to determine which features of HSV-1 infection function to regulate the translocation of VP22 into the nucleus. We report the following. (i) HSV-1(F)-induced microtubule rearrangement occurred in infected Vero cells by 13 hpi and was characterized by the loss of obvious microtubule organizing centers (MtOCs). Reformed MtOCs were detected at 25 hpi. (ii) VP22 was observed in the cytoplasm of cells prior to microtubule rearrangement and localized in the nucleus following the process. (iii) Stabilization of microtubules by the addition of taxol increased the accumulation of VP22 in the cytoplasm either during infection or in cells expressing VP22 in the absence of other viral proteins. (iv) While VP22 localized to the nuclei of cells treated with the microtubule depolymerizing agent nocodazole, either taxol or nocodazole treatment prevented optimal HSV-1(F) replication in Vero cells. (v) VP22 migration to the nucleus occurred in the presence of phosphonoacetic acid, indicating that viral DNA and true late protein synthesis were not required for its translocation. Based on these results, we conclude that (iv) microtubule reorganization during HSV-1 infection facilitates the nuclear localization of VP22.     

Regulation of herpesvirus macromolecular synthesis. VI. Synthesis and modification of viral polypeptides in enucleated cells.

Cells were enucleated with cytochalasin B after infection with herpes simplex virus 1. When protein synthesis was blocked by cycloheximide from the time of infection, mRNA for viral alpha-infected cell polypeptides (ICP) 4, 0, and 27 accumulated in the cytoplasm and was expressed after the removal of both drug and nucleus. A host protein, ICP 22, whose synthesis is stimulated in intact cells, was not made, and viral protein ICP4, which is normally modified to a form that migrates more slowly in polyacrylamide gels, was not modified in the absence of the nucleus. After enucleation at 2 h postinfection, a number of viral beta and gamma proteins continued to be made, starting at 20 to 25% of the normal rates and declining with a half-time of about 2 h. The synthesis of ICP 4 declined more rapidly, suggesting that it is switched off in the cytoplasm.     

Inhibition of Cellular DNA Synthesis in Cells Infected with Infectious Pancreatic Necrosis Virus

In asynchronous RTG-2 cell cultures infected with infectious pancreatic necrosis (IPN) virus, inhibition of cellular DNA synthesis, but not protein synthesis, was detected 5 to 6 h postinfection and was 80 to 90% complete by 7 to 8 h. Inhibition of DNA synthesis was largely abolished by UV irradiation of the virus. Sedimentation analyses of phenol-extracted DNA indicated that native cellular DNA was not degraded during infection. Sedimentation on alkaline sucrose gradients of DNA from cells pulsed with radioactive thymidine for varying periods indicated that elongation of nascent DNA chains proceeded normally in infected cells. These and previous results suggest that IPN virus infection results in a reduction of the number of chromosomal sites active in DNA synthesis but does not affect the rate of polymerization at active sites. Cells synchronized with excess thymidine and hydroxyurea and infected with virus at the time of release from the block demonstrated an inhibition of DNA synthesis 3 h postinfection. Cells infected 4 h prior to release continued to synthesize normal amounts of DNA for 1 to 2 h after release. These results indicated that DNA synthesis in early synthetic phase is relatively insensitive to inhibition by IPN virus.     

Synthesis of mitochondrial macromolecules in herpes simplex type 1 virus infected Vero cells

How viral infections affect host cell mitochondrial functions is largely unknown. In this study, uptake of radiolabeled precursors was used to assess how a herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV 1) infection influences synthesis of macromolecules comprising Vero cell mitochondria. Total macromolecular synthesis in infected cells was determined for comparative purposes. Mitochondrial and total cellular DNA syntheses were approximately halved at 1-2.5 h postinfection (PI). Mitochondrial DNA synthesis in infected cells then rose to 3.5-fold that in control cells at 3-4.5 h PI. Total DNA synthesis in infected cells also rose, but more slowly, reaching threefold that for control cells at 5-6.5 h PI. Mitochondrial and total RNA synthesis in infected cells were both decreased by approximately 40% at 1-3 h PI. Over the next 4 h, total RNA synthesis in infected cells slowly continued to decrease, while that in mitochondria recovered to control levels. Synthesis of mitochondrial proteins in infected cells decreased progressively, dropping to about 60% of control levels by 5-6.5 h PI. With the metabolic inhibitors ethidium bromide and cycloheximide, it was determined that nuclear DNA and mitochondrial DNA and mitochondrial DNA directed synthesis of mitochondrial proteins were each partially inhibited in infected cells. Total cellular protein synthesis was decreased by 30% at 1-2.5 h PI and then recovered to control levels by 5-6.5 h PI. Finally, phospholipid synthesis in mitochondria from infected cells was elevated 2.3-fold at 1-5 h PI, but dropped to 14% below control levels during 4-8 h PI.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Ultrastructural characterization of an early, nonstructural polypeptide of herpes simplex virus type 1.

An immunoperoxidase procedure was employed to study the expression of a large-molecular-weight, virus-induced polypeptide (VP175; molecular weight, 175,000) at the light and electron microscopic levels in Vero cells infected with herpes simplex virus type 1 or with tsB2, a DNA-negative, temperature-sensitive mutant of herpes simplex virus type 1. In cells infected with herpes simplex virus type 1 and in cells infected with tsB2 at the permissive temperature (34 degrees C), VP175 was found within the nucleus. The protein was detected as early as 2 h postinfection and, by 3 h postinfection, was generally distributed in a marginated pattern contiguous with, and extending from, the inner lamella of the nuclear membrane. At 6 h postinfection, protein accumulations were dispersed throughout the nucleus, and, by 9 h postinfection, these accumulations tended to be localized in a marginated pattern near the nuclear membrane. It was also noted that, at 9 h postinfection, under permissive conditions, VP175 was not found in association with nucleocapsids or enveloped particles. In contrast, in cells infected with tsB2 at the nonpermissive temperature (39 degrees C) and harvested at 6 or 9 h postinfection, accumulations of VP175 were identified not only within the nucleus, but also within the cytoplasm in the form of annular or globular aggregates. These aggregates consisted of a granular matrix and were not bound by membranes.     

Nucleic Acid Synthesis in Cytoplasm of Yaba Monkey Tumor Virus-Infected Cells

Yaba tumor virus progeny appeared in cynomolgus monkey kidney cells at 24 h postinfection and reached a plateau at 72 h in the first cycle of replication. Viral DNA synthesis was first detected at about 3 h and reached a peak in 18 h. Maximum coating of viral DNA in infected cells occurred at 4 days postinfection. Rapidly labeled RNA was synthesized in the cytoplasm of virus-infected cells. At 6 h postinfection 7 to 10S RNA was present; this species was present in greater amount at 12 h; at 24 h a truncated peak indicated the presence of 14 to 15S as well as 7 to 10S RNA. Hybridization data indicated that the largest peak of messenger RNA synthesis occurred at 11 to 13 h postinfection and a second, slightly smaller, peak occurred at 21 to 23 h.     

Further characterization of the replicative complex of vesicular stomatitis virus.

Replicating vesicular stomatitis virus ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes were isolated in nonequilibrium Renografin density gradients. These nascent RNPs had the same buoyant density as virion nucleocapsids in both isopycnic Renografin and CsCl gradients. Both transcribing and replicating RNP complexes were shown to be stable in sucrose gradients, whereas only replicating RNP complexes were stable in Renografin gradients. Size analysis of the 5-min-pulse-labeled RNA species from the replicating RNPs using methylmercury gels revealed that the nascent strands were primarily less than full-length molecules. Longer times of radiolabeling demonstrated that the nascent RNA accumulated as 42S RNA, which was primarily of the same sense as the virion strand when it was radiolabeled at 5 h postinfection. The percentage of this radiolabeled RNA which was plus stranded was higher at 2.5 h postinfection, reflective of the shift in plus- to minus-stranded full-length 42S RNA synthesis which occurs in the cell. Addition of cycloheximide to the infected cells before the addition of the radiolabel prevented the formation of these RNP complexes. Both the change in the percentage of minus strands found in the RNP complexes at the different times postinfection and the sensitivity to cycloheximide indicate that the RNP complex which was isolated was indeed the replicative complex.     

Baculovirus lef-12 is not required for viral replication

The baculovirus lef-12 (orf41) gene is required for transient expression of baculovirus late genes. To analyze the role of LEF-12 in the context of infected cells, two mutant viruses were constructed. Both mutants were viable in Trichoplusia ni High 5 and Spodoptera frugiperda Sf9 cells. Single-step growth curves, however, indicated that virus yields were reduced approximately fivefold in the absence of LEF-12. Pulse-labeling of infected cells revealed that LEF-12 mutant viruses entered the late phase and synthesized late proteins at levels equivalent to or only twofold lower than those of wild-type virus-infected cells. Western blot analyses confirmed that LEF-12 was not synthesized in cells infected with mutant virus. In wild-type virus-infected cells, LEF-12 was not detected until 18 h postinfection, and accumulation of LEF-12 peaked at 24 to 36 h postinfection. Primer extension mapping revealed that lef-12 mRNA was synthesized by 12 h postinfection and peaked between 18 and 24 h postinfection. Furthermore, synthesis of lef-12 mRNA and LEF-12 protein were inhibited by the addition of aphidicolin, indicating that lef-12 is expressed after DNA replication.