Evidence for control of translation of the viral genome during replication of Mengo virus and poliovirus

Abstract

An investigation of the synthesis of virus-specific polypeptides in Mengo virus-infected L cells and poliovirus-infected HeLa cells has shown that, from early to late log phase of virus production, there is a progressive increase in the ratio of capsid to noncapsid polypeptides synthesized. Comparable studies carried out in the presence of amino acid analogs have revealed that during the same time period there is a progressive decrease in the ratio of polyprotein (the presumed translation product of the entire genome) to capsid precursor protein synthesized. Both sets of data are compatible with the hypothesis that, during replication of these viruses, translation of the viral genome is subject to some kind of control.