Distribution and translation of poliovirus RNA in guanidine-treated cells

Abstract

Guanidine (1.5 m M) inhibits viral RNA synthesis more rapidly than viral protein synthesis in poliovirus-infected HeLa cells. Between 10 and 20 minutes following addition of guanidine at 3 hours 40 minutes after infection, the rate of viral RNA synthesis is reduced to 30% of that in untreated cells, whereas viral protein synthesis is still 70% of control. Viral RNA that is completed can be incorporated into viral polyribosomes and into mature virus particles in the presence of guanidine. This suggests that viral RNA molecules are released from the replication complex after completion. Moreover, no viral RNA is detected in the replication complex 10 minutes after addition of guanidine. As was shown previously for viral RNA synthesis, the inhibitory effect of guanidine on the rate of formation of infective virus diminishes rapidly when guanidine is added after the fourth hour in the viral growth cycle. The effect of guanidine on formation of infective virus may be secondary to inhibition of synthesis of viral RNA.