Early Inhibition of Cellular DNA Synthesis by High Multiplicities of Infectious and UV-Inactivated Reovirus

Inhibition of cellular DNA synthesis began 6 to 8 h after reovirus infection at a multiplicity of infection of 10 PFU per cell. However, as the multiplicity of infection was increased to a maximum of 10³ PFU/cell, inhibition of DNA synthesis began earlier after infection (2-4 h postinfection), and the initial rate of inhibition increased. The enhanced inhibition of DNA replication at high virus multiplicities appeared to be selective since RNA synthesis was not detectably altered as late as 9 h postinfection and inhibition of protein synthesis did not begin until 7 to 9 h after infection. Early inhibition of DNA synthesis did not appear to be related to changes in thymidine pool characteristics, thymidine kinase activity, or detectable degradation of cellular DNA. Even though the particle-to-PFU ratio was increased by ultraviolet light inactivation of virus, the ability to induce early inhibition of DNA synthesis was not diminished.