Effect of streptovaricin on the incorporation of uridine into cellular and viral RNA.

Poxvirus replication is inhibited by streptovaricin. The most readily observed effect is the inhibition of incorporation of 3H]uridine into viral mRNA, suggesting an inhibition of RNA synthesis. Streptovaricin also inhibits the incorporation of 3H]uridine into cellular RNA but not as severely as viral RNA. On the other hand, 3H]uridine incorporation into the RNA of Semliki Forest virus (SFV), which contains a positive strand RNA genome, does not seem to be inhibited by streptovaricin. The inhibitory effect of streptovaricin is completely reversible after removal of the inhibitor. In addition to inhibiting RNA synthesis, streptovaricin also may inhibit the methylation of cellular RNA. Viral RNA is stable in the presence of streptovaricin.