Evolution of virus and defective-interfering RNAs in BHK cells persistently infected with Sindbis virus.

We analyzed a BHK cell line persistently infected with Sindbis virus for 16 months and a virus (Sin-16) cloned from these cells. Sin-16 virus was resistant to the defective interfering particles present in the original infection. We found that (i) cells infected with Sin-16 were impaired in the processing of a viral precursor glycoprotein, (ii) high-multiplicity passaging of Sin-16 gave rise to a variant that was able to generate and be inhibited by defective-interfering particles to which the original Sin-16 virus was resistant, and (iii) the persistently infected culture contained a heterogeneous mixture of defective Sindbis virus RNAs which were not packaged into extracellular particles. To determine whether these intracellular RNAs could interfere with the replication of Sin-16, we analyzed cells that were cloned from the persistently infected culture. One clone (A3) synthesized a single defective viral RNA which was lost with continued passaging in culture. Infection of A3 cells with Sin-16 showed that the presence of the defective RNA greatly enhanced cell survival and led to enrichment of this RNA. In contrast, cured cells were highly susceptible to killing by Sin-16, and survivors did not synthesize this RNA. Thus, A3 cells were not genetically altered in their response to Sin-16, but were protected from the cytopathic effects of infection by an RNA with the characteristics of a defective-interfering RNA.     

Evidence of methylation of B77 avian sarcoma virus genome RNA subunits.

B77 avian sarcoma virus RNA was labeled with (methyl-3H) methionine under conditions that prevent non-methyl incorporation of 3H radioactivity into purine rings. From the determined values for the extent of methylation of 4S RNA isolated from infected chicken embryo cells, it was estimated that 30 to 40S RNA subunits that results from heat denaturation of the 60 to 70S RNA contain approximately 21 methyl groups, of which 14 to 16 are present at internal positions as N6 -methyladenosine residues. In addition, each of the virion RNA subunits appears to contain about two methyl groups in the "capped" 5' -terminal structure m7G(5')ppp(5') gm. These properties are consistent with the hypothesis that the 30 to 40S genome RNA os oncornaviruses also serves an mRNA function in infected cells.     

Sedimentation characteristics of virion RNA of Machupo virus reproducing in the presence of actinomycin D

Actinomycin D treatment (0.005-05 g/ml) of Vero and BHK-21 cells infected with Machupo virus suppressed the synthesis of ribosomal RNAs but did not affect the production of infectious Machupo virus. Virion RNAs contained 3 high molecular weight RNA species: 28-31 S, 22-24 S and 18 S. In the presence of actinomycin D [3H]-uridine incorporated only in 30-31 S and 22-24 S RNA species. The data are supported by previous results which show that Machupo virus genome contains two RNA species: "large" (30-31 S) and "small" (22-24 S).     

Heterologous interference in Aedes albopictus cells infected with alphaviruses.

Maximum amounts of 42S and 26S single-stranded viral RNA and viral structural proteins were synthesized in Aedes albopictus cells at 24 h after Sindbis virus infection. Thereafter, viral RNA and protein syntheses were inhibited. By 3 days postinfection, only small quantities of 42S RNA and no detectable 26S RNA or structural proteins were synthesized in infected cells. Superinfection of A. albopictus cells 3 days after Sindbis virus infection with Sindbis, Semliki Forest, Una, or Chikungunya alphavirus did not lead to the synthesis of intracellular 26S viral RNA. In contrast, infection with snowshoe hare virus, a bunyavirus, induced the synthesis of snowshoe hare virus RNA in both A. Ablpictus cells 3 days after Sindbis virus infection and previously uninfected mosquito cells. These results suggested that at 3 days after infection with Sindbis virus, mosquito cells restricted the replication of both homologous and heterologous alphaviruses but remained susceptible to infection with a bunyavirus. In superinfection experiments the the alphaviruses were differentiated on the basis of plaque morphology and the electrophoretic mobility of their intracellular 26S viral RNA species. Thus, it was shown that within 1 h after infection with eigher Sindbis or Chikungunya virus, A. albopictus cells were resistant to superinfection with Sindbis, Chikungunya, Una, and Semliki Forest viruses. Infected cultures were resistant to superinfection with the homologous virus indefinitely, but maximum resistance to superinfection with heterologous alphaviruses lasted for approximately 8 days. After that time, infected cultures supported the replication of heterologous alphaviruses to the same extent as did persistently infected cultures established months previously. However, the titer of heterologous alphavirus produced after superinfection of persistently infected cultures was 10- to 50-fold less than that produced by an equal number of previously uninfected A. albopictus cells. Only a small proportion (8 to 10%) of the cells in a persistently infected culture was capable of supporting the replication of a heterologous alphavirus.     

Subgenomic mRNA of Aura alphavirus is packaged into virions.

Purified virions of Aura virus, a South American alphavirus related to Sindbis virus, were found to contain two RNA species, one of 12 kb and the other of 4.2 kb. Northern (RNA) blot analysis, primer extension analysis, and limited sequencing showed that the 12-kb RNA was the viral genomic RNA, whereas the 4.2-kb RNA present in virus preparations was identical to the 26S subgenomic RNA present in infected cells. The subgenomic RNA is the messenger for translation of the viral structural proteins, and its synthesis is absolutely required for replication of the virus. Although 26S RNA is present in the cytosol of all cells infected by alphaviruses, this is the first report of incorporation of the subgenomic RNA into alphavirus particles. Packaging of the Aura virus subgenomic mRNA occurred following infection of mosquito (Aedes albopictus C6/36), hamster (BHK-21), or monkey (Vero) cells. Quantitation of the amounts of genomic and subgenomic RNA both in virions and in infected cells showed that the ratio of genomic to subgenomic RNA was 3- to 10-fold higher in Aura virions than in infected cells. Thus, although the subgenomic RNA is packaged efficiently, the genomic RNA has a selective advantage during packaging. In contrast, in parallel experiments with Sindbis virus, packaging of subgenomic RNA was not detectable. We also found that subgenomic RNA was present in about threefold-greater amounts relative to genomic RNA in cells infected by Aura virus than in cells infected by Sindbis virus. Packaging of the Aura virus subgenomic RNA, but not those of other alphaviruses, suggests that Aura virus 26S RNA contains a packaging signal for incorporation into virions. The importance of the packaging of this RNA into virions in the natural history of the virus remains to be determined.     

Isolation and characterization of a virus-specific ribonucleoprotein complex from reticuloendotheliosis virus-transformed chicken bone marrow cells.

Chicken bone marrow cells transformed by reticuloendotheliosis virus (REV) produce in the cytoplasm a ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complex which has a sedimentation value of approximately 80 to 100S and a density of 1.23 g/cm3. This RNP complex is not derived from the mature virion. An endogenous RNA-directed DNA polymerase activity is associated with the RNP complex. The enzyme activity was completely neutralized by anti-REV DNA polymerase antibody but not by anti-avian myeloblastosis virus DNA polymerase antibody. The DNA product from the endogenous RNA-directed DNA polymerase reaction of the RNP complex hybridized to REV RNA but not to avian leukosis virus RNA. The RNA extracted from the RNP hybridized only to REV-specific complementary DNA synthesized from an endogenous DNA polymerase reaction of purified REV. The size of the RNA in the RNP is 30 to 35S, which represents the subunit size of the genomic RNA. No 60S mature genomic RNA was found within the RNP complex. The significance of finding the endogenous DNA polymerase activity in the viral RNP in infected cells and the maturation process of 60S virion RNA of REV are discussed.     

RNA metabolism of murine leukemia virus: detection of virus-specific RNA sequences in infected and uninfected cells and identification of virus-specific messenger RNA

Virus-specific RNA sequences were detected in mouse cells infected with murine leukemia virus by hybridization with radioactively labeled DNA complementary to Moloney murine leukemia virus RNA. The DNA was synthesized in vitro using the endogenous virion RNA-dependent DNA polymerase and the DNA product was characterized by size and its ability to protect radioactive viral RNA. Virus-specific RNA sequences were found in two lines of leukemia virus-infected cells (JLS-V11 and SCRF 60A) and also in an uninfected line (JLS-V9). Approximately 0.3% of the cytoplasmic RNA in JLS-VII cells was virus-specific and 0.9% of SCRF 60A cell RNA was virus-specific. JLS-V9 cells contained approximately tenfold less virus-specific RNA than infected JLS-VII cells. Moloney leukemia virus DNA completely annealed to JLS-VII or SCRF 60A RNA but only partial annealing was observed with JLS-V9 RNA. This difference is ascribed to non-homologies between the RNA sequences of Moloney virus and the endogenous virus of JLS-V9 cells.Virus-specific RNA was found to exist in infected cells in three major size classes: 60–70 S RNA, 35 S RNA and 20–30 S RNA. The 60–70 S RNA was apparently primarily at the cell surface, since agents which remove material from the cell surface were effective in removing a majority of the 60–70 S RNA. The 35 S and 20–30 S RNA is relatively unaffected by these procedures. Sub-fractionation of the cytoplasm indicated that approximately 35% of the cytoplasmic virus-specific RNA in infected cells is contained in the membrane-bound material. The membrane-bound virus-specific RNA consists of some residual 60–70 S RNA and 35 S RNA, but very little 20–30 S RNA. Virus-specific messenger RNA was identified in polyribosome gradients of infected cell cytoplasm. Messenger RNA was differentiated from other virus-specific RNAs by the criterion that virus-specific messenger RNA must change in sedimentation rate following polyribosome disaggregation. Two procedures for polyribosome disaggregation were used: treatment with EDTA and in vitro incubation of polyribosomes with puromycin in conditions of high ionic strength. As identified by this criterion, the virus-specific messenger RNA appeared to be mostly 35 S RNA. No function for the 20–30 S was determined.