Inhibition of synthesis of influenza virus proteins: Evidence for two host-cell-dependent events during multiplication

Abstract

Camptothecin or a critical dose of actinomycin D added to BHK cells before infection selectively inhibits the synthesis of influenza virus haemagglutinin, neuraminidase and membrane proteins but permits the synthesis of other viral proteins. Specifically, camptothecin allows the synthesis of P 1, P 2, nucleoprotein and the large and small nonstructural proteins. However, α-amanitin added to cells on infection does not selectively inhibit the synthesis of any particular group of viral proteins in this way at any of the concentrations tested. If sufficiently high concentrations of α-amanitin or actinomycin D are used, all viral protein synthesis is inhibited completely. We interpret these data as showing that there are two events during the synthesis of influenza virus proteins which are sensitive to the inhibitors used. One event is inhibited by α-amanitin or by a high concentration of actinomycin D and the other by camptothecin or by a critical concentration of actinomycin D.