Effect of p-Fluorophenylalanine on the Multiplication of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus

Abstract

MANY amino-acid analogues are known to prevent protein synthesis. p-Fluorophenylalanine in particular has been shown to inhibit synthesis by competition with phenylalanine. The growth of several animal viruses is inhibited by the addition of this analogue to the growth medium (for example, the viruses of poliomyelitis1, influenza2, fowl plague3 and Western equine encephalomyelitis4). In the case of polio virus and influenza virus, the effect of p-fluorophenylalanine on the infectivity and haemagglutinating activity, respectively, was studied. A more detailed examination of the effect of the inhibitor on the synthesis of the sub-units of fowl plague virus and Western equine encephalomyelitis virus has shown that information can be obtained on the manner in which the complete virus particles are formed. The present communication describes the effect of p-fluorophenylalanine on the synthesis of the infective component and viral ribonucleic acid of foot-and-mouth disease virus.