CYTOPLASMIC LOCALIZATION OF RIBONUCLEIC ACID SYNTHESIS INDUCED IN THE CELLS INFECTED WITH SOME GROUP A ARBOVIRUSES

Abstract

Specific RNA synthesis induced in VERO cells by the infection with western equine encephalitis (WEE) virus or Chikungunya virus was studied by autoradiography in the presence of chromomycin A3 or actinomycin D allowing the viruses to propagate despite the suppression of cellular RNA synthesis. It was revealed that such virus-induced RNA pulse-labeled with ³Huridine after infection of WEE virus or Chikungunya virus appeared dispersedly in the cytoplasm of the infected cells. Chikungunya virus-induced RNA accumulated after chase in the restricted areas of the cytoplasm. This finding supports the general view that the loci of RNA synthesis induced by group A arboviruses are confined within the cytoplasm of the infected cells.