INHIBITION OF CELLULAR DNA-SYNTHESIS IN HAMSTER KIDNEY CELLS INFECTED WITH WESTERN EQUINE ENCEPHALITIS-VIRUS

Infection of BHK [baby hamster kidney] cells with western equine encephalitis (WEE) virus resulted in rapid inhibition of cellular DNA synthesis. The rate of inhibition of DNA synthesis depended on the multiplicity of infection and was closely related to virus replication. Cellular DNA synthesis was not inhibited in infected, UV irradiated BHK cells. These results indicated that a functional viral genome was required for the inhibition of DNA synthesis by WEE virus. The sharp decrease in thymidine incorporation into the acid-insoluble fraction was not due to a change in the intracellular pool of the acid-soluble fraction. Sedimentation analysis in alkaline sucrose gradients showed that cellular DNA was not degraded during WEE virus infection. DNA polymerase activity in infected cells was not significantly reduced.