Growth characteristics of reovirus type 2: actinomycin D and the synthesis of viral RNA.

Abstract

The pre- and posttreat-ment of infected cells with 2 g per ml of AD resulted in the complete inhibition of the synthesis of virus RNA and, consequently, of infectious reovirus type 2. However, more than 80 per cent of these AD-treated cells continued to produce viral antigen. The reasons for this continued formation of viral protein in the absence of viral RNA synthesis are not yet clear, although the preferential inhibition of the formation of one viral constituent by certain antimetabolities, such as 5-fluoro-2''-deoxy-uridine, or fluorophenylalanine is not unknown.