Protein Synthesis in BHK-21 Cells Infected with Semliki Forest Virus

[³H]leucine-labeled proteins synthesized in BHK-21 cells infected with Semliki Forest virus were fractionated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). Cellular and virus-specific proteins were identified by difference analysis of the PAGE profiles. The specific activity of intracellular [³H]leucine was determined. Two alterations of protein synthesis, which develop with different time courses, were discerned. (i) In infected cultures an inhibition of overall protein synthesis to about 25% of the protein synthesis in mock-infected cultures develops between about 1 and 4 h postinfection (p.i.). (ii) The relative amount of virus-specific polypeptides versus cellular polypeptides increases after infection. About 80% of the proteins synthesized at 4 h p.i. are cellular proteins. Since significant amounts of nontranslocating ribosomes in polyribosomes were not detected up to 7 h p.i., the inhibition of protein synthesis is not caused by inactivation of about 75% of all polyribosomes but by a decreased protein synthetic activity of the majority of polyribosomes. Indirect evidence indicates that an inhibition of elongation and/or release of protein synthesis develops in infected cells, which is sufficient to account for the observed inhibition of protein synthesis. Inhibition of over-all protein synthesis developed when virus-specific RNA began to accumulate at the maximal rate. This relationship was observed during virus multiplication at 37, 30, and 25 C. A possible mechanism by which synthesis of virus-specific RNA in the cytoplasm could inhibit cellular protein synthesis is discussed. Indirect evidence and analysis of polyribosomal RNA show that the increased synthesis of virus-specific protein is brought about by a substitution of cellular by viral mRNA in the polyribosomes.     

Cell-free translation of bovine viral diarrhea virus RNA.

Bovine viral diarrhea virus RNA was translated in a reticulocyte cell-free protein synthesizing system. The purified, 8.2-kilobase, virus-specific RNA species was unable to serve an an efficient message unless it was denatured immediately before translation. In this case, several polypeptides, ranging in molecular weight from 50,000 to 150,000 and most of which were immunoprecipitated by bovine viral diarrhea virus-specific antiserum, were synthesized in vitro. When polyribosomes were used to program cell-free synthesis, mature viral 80,000- and 115,000-molecular-weight proteins were detected; no precursor to the viral 55,000-molecular-weight glycoprotein was noted. The implications of these results with respect to virus-specific protein synthesis are discussed.     

Identification of a subset of herpesvirus saimiri polypeptides synthesized in the absence of virus DNA replication.

The effects of phosphonoacetic acid on the synthesis of herpesvirus saimiri-specific polypeptides in productively infected cells were examined. At concentrations that inhibited virus DNA synthesis (greater than or equal to 150 micrograms/ml), phosphonoacetic acid prevented the synthesis of the majority of virus-specific polypeptides while allowing the synthesis of a subset of virus proteins (i.e., 110,000 [110K], 76K, 72K, 51K, 48K, 29K, 24K, and 20K or 21K) and the protracted synthesis of host-specified polypeptides. Other inhibitors of DNA synthesis (e.g., cytosine arabinoside) showed the same selective inhibition of late virus protein synthesis and identified the same resistant subset of early virus-specific polypeptides. This DNA synthesis-independent subset included the 51K phosphoprotein, which, together with the 110K, 48K, and 31K polypeptides, accumulated in the nuclear fraction of infected cells.     

Restricted replication of human hepatitis A virus in cell culture: intracellular biochemical studies.

When hepatitis A virus was inoculated into Vero cells, virus-specified protein and RNA synthesis was detected. Production of viral protein was detected by electrophoretic analysis in polyacrylamide gels by using a double-label coelectrophoresis and subtraction method which eliminated the contribution of host protein components from the profiles of virus-infected cytoplasm. Eleven virus-specified proteins were detected in the net electrophoretic profiles of hepatitis A virus-infected cells. The molecular weights of these proteins were very similar to those detected in cells infected with poliovirus type 1. Virus-specified protein synthesis could be detected at 3 to 6 h and continued for at least 48 h postinfection, but no significant effect on host-cell macromolecular synthesis was observed. Limited viral RNA replication occurred between 2 and 6 h postinfection. The genomic RNA of hepatitis A virus was extracted and shown to be capable of infecting cells and inducing the same set of proteins as intact virus, indicating that the RNA genome is positive stranded. Progeny virus was never detected in the supernatant fluids of infected cell cultures, and the cells showed no observable cytopathology, even though hepatitis A virus-specific proteins and antigens were being produced. The nature of the defect in the replicative cycle of hepatitis A virus in this system remains unknown.     

Sites of synthesis of viral proteins in avian sarcoma virus-infected chicken cells.

We determined the sites of synthesis of avian sarcoma virus-specific proteins in infected chicken cells by immunoprecipitation of the products synthesized in vitro by free and membrane-bound polyribosomes; 85% of Pr76, the precursor of the viral internal structural proteins (group-specific antigens), was synthesized on free polyribosomes, and 15% was synthesized on membrane-bound polyribosomes. Pr92, the lycosylated precursor of the viral glycoproteins (gp85 and gp35), was synthesized exclusively on membrane-bound polyribomes, which is consistent with its role as a membrane protein. When we investigated the site of synthesis of pp60src, the product of the avian sarcoma virus src gene, we found that 90% was synthesized on free polyribosomes, whereas 10% was detected on membrane-bound polyribosomes. The implications of these results with respect to the subcellular location of pp60src are discussed.     

Mechanism of Mengo Virus-Induced Cell Injury in L Cells: Use of Inhibitors of Protein Synthesis to Dissociate Virus-Specific Events

L cells were infected with Mengo virus in the presence of varying concentrations of protein synthesis inhibitors (azetidine-2-carboxylic acid, p-fluorophenylalanine, puromycin), and examined with respect to the effects of the inhibitors on several features of virus-induced cell injury. The virus-specific events in the cells could be dissociated into three groups, based on their sensitivity to the inhibitors: (i) viral ribonucleic acid (RNA) synthesis, bulk viral protein synthesis, and infectious particle production, all of which were prevented by low inhibitor concentrations; (ii) the cytopathic effect (CPE) and stimulation of phosphatidylcholine synthesis, which were sensitive to intermediate concentrations of the inhibitors; and (iii) the virus-induced inhibitions of host RNA and protein synthesis, which were resistart to the inhibitors of protein synthesis except at very high concentrations. It is concluded from this that the virus-induced CPE and stimulation of phosphatidylcholine synthesis are not consequences of the inhibition of cellular RNA or protein synthesis. Analysis of the virus-specific protein and RNA synthesized at several concentrations of azetidine and puromycin suggests that the CPE may be induced by a viral protein precursor. Virus-induced inhibition of host RNA and protein synthesis occurred at azetidine concentrations which blocked the synthesis of over 99.7% of the total viral RNA and over 99% of the viral double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). Calculations show that this would correspond to less than 150 dsRNA molecules per infected cell, resulting in a dsRNA-polysome ratio of less than 1:1,000; this indicates that host protein synthesis cannot be inhibited by an irreversible binding of dsRNA to polysomes.     

Translation of Sindbis virus 26 S RNA and 49 S RNA in lysates of rabbit reticulocytes

Sindbis virus-specific polypeptides were synthesized in lysates of rabbit reticulocytes in response to added 26 S or 49 S RNA. Sindbis 26 S RNA was translated into as many as three polypeptides which co-migrate in acrylamide gels with proteins found in infected cells.Wild type 26 S RNA was translated primarily into two polypeptides, which appear to be the Sindbis nucleocapsid protein (mol. wt 30,000) and the precursor of the two glycoproteins of the virion (mol. wt 100,000). A larger polypeptide (mol. wt 130,000) was synthesized in response to ts2 26 S RNA, a species of RNA which was isolated from cells infected with the ts2 mutant of Sindbis virus. This large polypeptide is apparently the protein which accumulates in cells infected with the mutant virus and which is thought to be a precursor of all three viral structural proteins.These results support the hypothesis that 26 S RNA is the messenger for the three structural proteins of the virion and that the RNA codes for one large polypeptide precursor. The precursor may then be cleaved at a specific site to yield the nucleocapsid protein and a second polypeptide which, in infected cells, is cleaved in a series of steps to yield the two glycoproteins of the virion.Sindbis 49 S RNA was translated into eight or nine polypeptides ranging from 60,000 to 180,000 molecular weights. The viral structural proteins, as such, were not synthesized in response to the added 49 S RNA.     

Resonance Raman spectra of heme a derivatives. Evidence for the reaction of peripheral formyl group with HCN and NaHSO3.

A separate and distinct population of polyribosomes exists in the detergent-washed nuclei of adenovirus-infected HeLa cells. These polyribosomes, released by exposure to polynucleotides such as high molecular weight nuclear RNA or poly(U), do not appear to be cytoplasmic contaminants. Nuclear polyribosomes have a considerably lower buoyant density compared to cytoplasmic ones. Nuclear polyribosomes, in a cell-free system of protein synthesis, are six- to eight-fold less active compared to cytoplasmic ones and are insensitive to aurin tricarboxylic acid. They do not complement cytoplasmic polyribosomes in protein synthesis in the cell-free system. Finally, the number of proteins synthesized by nuclear polyribosomes is higher compared with that synthesized by the cytoplasmic ones. Only the virus-specific proteins, including P-VII, are synthesized by cytoplasmic polyribosomes. Nuclear polyribosomes, on the other hand, synthesize virusspecific proteins, including P-VII and VII, and a number of additional proteins not synthesized by the cytoplasmic ones.     

Complementation of translational defect for growth of human adenovirus type 2 in Simian cells by a Simian virus 40-induced factor

The defective step which leads human adenovirus type 2 infection of African green monkey kidney cells (clone C14) to be abortive and its complementation in simian virus 40-transformed cells (clone T22) were studied by comparing the synthesis and function of macromolecules in these cell lines. Neither a quantitative nor a qualitative difference was detected in virus DNA replication and in virus mRNA synthesis in these cells, while a definite difference was observed in protein synthesis. The capsid proteins, such as hexon or penton, were synthesized in T22 cells but not in C14 cells. Inability of polyribosomes to synthesize the capsid proteins in C14 cells infected with adenovirus type 2 may not be due to a defect in elongation of nascent polypeptides or their release, since nascent polypeptides pulse-labelled with [³H]leucine were completely released from polyribosomes after the chase. The electrophoretic analysis of proteins synthesized in vitro with polyribosomes from either infected T22 or C14 cells using the pH 5 enzyme and S100 fraction from T22 cells revealed that hexon was synthesized with polyribosomes from T22 cells but not from C14 cells, thereby suggesting that the defect is not ascribed to a component in the pH 5 enzyme and S100 fraction, but resides in polyribosomes. The analysis of late adenovirus mRNA associated with polyribosomes in the infected T22 and C14 cells by hybridization competition or by sedimentation revealed that all the species of virus mRNA were present in the cytoplasm of these cells; however, certain species of virus mRNA larger than 20 S were absent in polyribosomes of the infected C14 cells. Sedimentation analysis of late adenovirus mRNA following separation on poly(U)-Sepharose or by membrane filtration gave the same results. These results suggest that the defect of C14 cells to support growth of adenoviruses is due to the inability of ribosomes to associate with certain species of late virus mRNA to form polyribosomes and suggest that a factor complementing this defect is induced by simian virus 40.     

Viral genome RNA serves as messenger early in the infectious cycle of murine leukemia virus.

When NIH/3T3 mouse fibroblasts were infected with the Moloney strain of murine leukemia virus, part of the viral genome RNA molecules were detected in polyribosomes of the infected cells early in the infectious cycle. The binding appears to be specific, since we could demonstrate the release of viral RNA from polyribosomes with EDTA. Moreover, when infection occurred in the presence of cycloheximide, most viral RNA molecules were detected in the free cytoplasm. Size analysis on polyribosomal viral RNA molecules indicated that two size class molecules, 38S and 23S, are present in polyribosomes at 3 h after infection. Analysis of the polyriboadenylate [poly(rA)] content of viral RNA extracted from infected polyribosomes demonstrated that such molecules bind with greatest abundance at 3 h after infection, as has been detected with total viral RNA. No molecules lacking poly(rA) stretches could be detected in polyribosomes. Furthermore, when a similar analysis was performed on unbound molecules present in the free cytoplasm, identical results were obtained. We conclude that no selection towards poly(rA)-containing viral molecules is evident on binding to polyribosomes. These findings suggest that the incoming viral genome of the Moloney strain of murine leukemia virus may serve as a messenger for the synthesis of one or more virus-specific proteins early after infection of mouse fibroblasts.     

Monensin and nigericin prevent the inhibition of host translation by poliovirus, without affecting p220 cleavage.

Addition of monensin or nigericin after poliovirus entry into HeLa cells prevents the inhibition of host protein synthesis by poliovirus. The infected cells continue to synthesize cellular proteins at control levels for at least 8 h after infection in the presence of the ionophore. Cleavage of p220 (gamma subunit of eukaryotic initiation factor 4 [eIF-4 gamma]), a component of the translation initiation factor eIF-4F, occurs to the same extent in poliovirus-infected cells whether or not they are treated with monensin. Two hours after infection there is no detectable intact p220, but the cells continue to translate cellular mRNAs for several hours at levels similar to those in uninfected cells. Nigericin or monensin prevented the arrest of host translation at all the multiplicities of poliovirus infection tested. At high multiplicities of infection, an unprecedented situation was found: cells synthesized poliovirus and cellular proteins simultaneously. Superinfection of vesicular stomatitis virus-infected HeLa cells with poliovirus led to a profound inhibition of vesicular stomatitis virus protein synthesis, while nigericin partially prevented this blockade. Drastic inhibition of translation also took place in influenza virus-infected Vero cells treated with nigericin and infected with poliovirus. These findings suggest that the translation of newly synthesized mRNAs is dependent on the integrity of p220, while ongoing cellular protein synthesis does not require an intact p220. The target of ionophore action during the poliovirus life cycle was also investigated. Addition of nigericin at any time postinfection profoundly blocked the synthesis of virus RNA, whereas viral protein synthesis was not affected if nigericin was added at 4 h postinfection. These results agree well with previous findings indicating that inhibitors of phospholipid synthesis or vesicular traffic interfere with poliovirus genome replication. Therefore, the action of nigericin on the vesicular system may affect poliovirus RNA synthesis. In conclusion, monensin and nigericin are potent inhibitors of poliovirus genome replication that prevent the shutoff of host translation by poliovirus while still permitting cleavage of p220.     

Polysomal Localization of R17 Bacteriophage-Specific Protein Synthesis

Synthesis of viral ribonucleic acid (RNA) polymerase, maturation protein, and coat protein in Escherichia coli infected with bacteriophage R17 occurs mainly on polysomes containing four or more ribosomes. The 30S ribosomal subunits through trimer-size polysomes, which are associated with all of the R17-specific proteins and are predominant in the infected cell, synthesize only coat protein. These structures may accumulate as products derived from larger polysomes as a result of failure in the release of nascent polypeptides after termination of chain growth. Appreciable amounts of viral coat protein remain attached to ribosomes and polysomes during R17 bacteriophage replication, supporting the hypothesis of the repressor role of this protein. The time course of synthesis of virus-specific proteins obtained from the polysomes of infected cells demonstrated regulated R17 messenger RNA translation consistent with the idea that coat protein is preferentially synthesized whereas the synthesis of noncoat proteins is suppressed.     

Human cytomegalovirus stimulates host cell RNA synthesis.

Human cytomegalovirus infection of human fibroblast cells (WI-38) induced cellular RNA synthesis. The RNA synthesis in infected cultures preceded the synthesis of viral DNA and progeny virus by approximately 24 h. RNA species synthesized in infected cells included ribosomal 28S and 18S; and 4S transfer RNA; all were markedly increased in comparison to uninfected cells. This induction of host cell RNA synthesis was dependent upon a protein(s) that was synthesized during the early stages of infection.     

Translation of three mouse hepatitis virus strain A59 subgenomic RNAs in Xenopus laevis oocytes

We have purified the seven virus-specific RNAs which were previously shown to be induced in Sac(-) cells upon infection with mouse hepatitis virus strain A59 (W. J. M. Spaan, P. J. M. Rottier, M. C. Horzinek, and B. A. M. van der Zeijst, Virology 108:424-434, 1981). The individual RNAs, prepared by agarose gel electrophoresis of the polyadenylated RNA fraction from infected cells, were obtained pure, except for the preparations of RNAs 4, 5, and 6, which contained some contamination of RNA 7. The RNAs were microinjected into Xenopus laevis oocytes, and after incubation of these cells in the presence of [35S]methionine, the proteins synthesized were analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Whereas no translation products of RNAs 1, 2, 4, and 5 were detected, the synthesis of virus-specific polypeptides coded by RNAs 3, 6, and 7 was observed. RNA 7 (0.6 X 10(6) daltons) directed the synthesis of a 54,000-molecular-weight polypeptide which comigrated with viral nucleocapsid protein and which was immunoprecipitated by antiserum from mice that had been infected with the virus. RNA 6 (0.9 X 10(6) daltons) directed the synthesis of three polypeptides with molecular weights of 24,000, 25,500, and 26,500, which migrated with the same electrophoretic mobilities as three low-molecular-weight virion polypeptides. After injection of RNA 3 (3.0 X 10(6) daltons), a polypeptide with a molecular weight of about 150,000 was immunoprecipitated. This polypeptide had no counterpart in the virion, but comigrated with a virus-specific glycoprotein present in infected cells which is immunoprecipitated by a rabbit antiserum against the mouse hepatitis virus strain A59 structural proteins. This antiserum could also immunoprecipitate the translation products of RNAs 3, 6, and 7. These results indicate that RNAs 3, 6, and 7 encode viral structural proteins. The significance of the data with respect to the strategy of coronavirus replication is discussed.     

Analysis of cytoplasmic RNA and polyribosmomes from feline leukemia virus-infected cells.

Cytoplasmic virus-specific RNA and polyribosomes from a chronically infected feline thymus tumor cell line, F-422, were analyzed by using in vitro-synthesized feline leukemia virus (Rickard strain) (R-FeLV) complementary DNA (cDNA) probe. By hybridization kinetics analysis, cytoplasmic, polyribosomat, and nuclear RNAs were found to be 2.1, 2.6, and 0.7% virus specific, respectively. Size classes within subcellular fractions were determined by sucrose gradient centrifugation in the presence of dimethyl sulfoxide followed by hybridization. The cytoplasmic fraction contained a 28S size class, which corresponds to the size of virion subunit RNA, and 36S, 23S, and 15 to 18S RNA species. The virus-specific 36S, 23S, and 15 to 18S species but not the 28S RNA were present in both the total and polyadenylic acid-containing polyribosomal RNA. Anti-FeLV gamma globulin bound to rapidly sedimenting polyribosomes, with the peak binding at 400S. The specificity of the binding for nascent virus-specific protein was determined in control experiments that involved mixing polyribosomes with soluble virion proteins, absorption of specific gamma globulin with soluble virion proteins, and puromycin-induced nascent protein release. The R-FeLV cDNA probe hybridized to RNA in two polyribosomal regions (approximately 400 to 450S and 250S) within the polyribosomal gradients before but not after EDTA treatment. The 400 to 450S polyribosomes contained three major peaks of virus-specific RNA at 36S, 23S, and 15 to 18S, whereas the 250S polyribosomes contained predominantly 36S and 15 to 18S RNA. Further experiments suggest that an approximately 36S minor subunit is present in virion RNA.