DNA synthesis in polyoma virus infection. V. Kinetic evidence for two requirements for protein synthesis during viral DNA replication

Protein synthesis in polyoma virus-infected cells was inhibited by 99% within 4 min after exposure to 10 mug of cycloheximide per ml. Subsequent to the block in protein synthesis, the rate of viral DNA synthesis declined via inhibition of the rate of initiation of new rounds of genome replication (Yu and Cheevers, 1976). This process was inhibited with complex kinetics: within 15 min after the addition of cycloheximide, the rate of formation of closed-circular viral DNA was reduced by about one-half. Thereafter, DNA synthesis in cycloheximide-treated cells declined more slowly, reaching a level of 10% of untreated cells only after approximately 2 h. Protein synthesis was also required for normal closure of progeny form I DNA: in the presence of cycloheximide, DNA synthesis was diverted from the production of form I to form Ic, a monomeric closed-circular DNA component deficient in superhelical turns (Yu and Cheevers, 1976). Form I is replaced by Ic with first-order exponential kinetics. It is concluded that at least two proteins are involved in the control of polyoma DNA replication. One is apparently a stoichiometric requirement involved in the initiation step of viral DNA synthesis, since this process cannot be maintained at a normal rate for more than a few minutes in the absence of protein synthesis. The second protein requirement, governing the closure of newly synthesized progeny DNA, is considered distinct from the "initiation" protein on the basis of the kinetic data.</jats:p

DNA synthesis in polyoma virus infection. IV. Mechanism of formation of closed-circular viral DNA deficient in superhelical turns

A marked reduction in the rate of viral DNA synthesis is accompanied by an alteration to the superhelicity of progeny DNA in polyoma virus-infected cells in which protein synthesis has been inhibited by cycloheximide. Viral DNA molecules formed in the presence of cycloheximide consist predominantly of closed-circular monometric species (referred to as form Ic) characterized by a decreased superhelix density, corresponding to deltasigmao = 0.0195, as compared to form I DNA by propidium diiodide-cesium chloride isopycnic analysis. Form Ic is synthesized on pre-existing form I templates without the intervention of progeny form I as an intermediate. It is concluded that inhibition of protein synthesis results in the alteration of some process in the closure of daughter DNA that leads to a marked reduction of superhelical turns of progeny molecules. About two-thirds of form Ic molecules return to the form I conformation upon reversal of cycloheximide inhibition by a mechanism independent of DNA replication.</jats:p

DNA synthesis in polyoma virus infection. III. Mechanism of inhibition of viral DNA replication by cycloheximide

The formation of viral DNA was inhibited in polyoma virus-infected cells in which protein synthesis had been blocked by cycloheximide. The present studies show the following. (i) The pool of replicating viral DNA molecules was reduced in cycloheximide-treated cells by an amount consistent with inhibition of [3-H]thymidine incorporation into viral DNA, whereas the rate of turnover of the replicating population was not affected. (ii) The rate of conversion of replicating molecules into closed-circular DNA was not affected by cycloheximide. (iii) The rate of elongation of nascent viral DNA fragments into strands of unit genome length was unaffected by cycloheximide. It is concluded that viral DNA synthesis is inhibited in the absence of protein synthesis exclusively at the level of initiation of new rounds of genome replication. Replicating molecules already initiated at the time of addition of cycloheximide matured into progeny closed-circular DNA at a normal rate.</jats:p