Regulation of type 5 adenovirus replication in murine teratocarcinoma cell lines

Abstract

Two embryonal carcinoma cell lines (F9, PCC4) and one differentiated murine teratocarcinoma line (PYS) were studied for susceptibility to infection by human adenovirus type 5. PCC4 and PYS cells were found to be semipermissive for adenovirus infection in that the yield of infectious virus was approximately 100-fold lower than seen in permissive human KB cells. F9 cells were seen to be nonpermissive. The block in the replication of Ad5 in F9 cells was not at the level of viral adsorption, penetration, or uncoating. The major early viral protein, the 72K DNA-binding protein, was made, and viral DNA was replicated in infected cells. Late viral RNAs were detected to be of proper size, and were polyadenylated. The synthesis of late viral RNA was depressed 10- to 15-fold, whereas the synthesis of late viral proteins was depressed at least 200-fold. These data suggest the presence of a defect in transcription and in post-transcriptional modification or translation of late viral RNA in adenovirus type 5-infected F9 cells.