Inhibition of nuclear protein synthesis in BHK-21 cells infected with arboviruses.

Abstract

Host-cell protein synthesis in BHK-21 cells infected with Chikungunya virus (ChV) was markedly inhibited. Strongest inhibition was observed in nuclear and microsomal fractions of the infected cells. Protein synthesis of nuclei isolated from ChV-infected BHK-21 cells has also been suppressed profoundly, whereas infection by dengue virus (DV) did not result in a clear inhibition of nuclear protein synthesis. In addition, infection by these arboviruses brought about a rapid and marked inhibition of DNA-dependent RNA polymerase activity in BHK-21 cells. However, the inhibitory effect of DV was apparently less marked than that of ChV. From the results of preliminary studies, it was suggested that an inhibitory factor produced during the early stage of ChV infection is responsible for the inhibition of nuclear protein synthesis and RNA polymerase activity in host cells. This inhibitor is found mostly in the microsomal fraction of infected cells.