Polyamine turnover and leakage during infection of HeLa and L-cells with herpex simplex virus type 1

Abstract

Polyamine turnover has been studied in HeLa cells and L-cells during infection with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). This virus multiplies 20 times more efficiently in HeLa than in L-cells. Purified HSV-1 grown in HeLa cells contained spermidine and spermine. Spermine was confined to the nucleocapsid, as reported elsewhere, and could neutralize nearly 50% of the DNA phosphates. Synthesis of spermidine and spermine stopped soon after infection of both types of cells, as measured by changes in specific activity of cell polyamines. No further metabolism of these organic cations could be detected during infection. 80% of cell polyamines were lost rapidly from L-cells during infection with HSV-1. In contrast, infected HeLa cells lost very little polyamine. Addition of spermidine or spermine to infected cells did not increase the yield of virus, suggesting that loss of cell polyamines was not limiting production of infectious virus.