Inhibition of ribonucleic acid methylation in the foot-and-mouth disease virus-infected host cell

Foot-and-mouth disease virus-induced alterations of baby hamster kidney cell macromolecular biosynthesis: inhibition of ribonucleic acid methylation and stimulation of ribonucleic acid synthesis

The kinetics of ribonucleic acid (RNA) and protein synthesis and RNA methylation were examined after foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) infection of baby hamster kidney cells. The synthesis of RNA extracted from the whole cells was stimulated two- to threefold above the control level of synthesis. This increased rate was attributed to viral RNA synthesis. The inhibition of host RNA methylation was concomitant with but more pronounced than protein synthesis inhibition. The methylation of transfer RNA was initially inhibited by virus infection, but rose to within 70 to 80% of the control level just prior to the production of maximal amounts of virus-specific RNA polymerase. Cycloheximide studies showed that rapid cessation of protein synthesis did not result in the immediate cessation of RNA methylation. A comparison between the kinetics of inhibition of these processes by cycloheximide and FMDV infection suggests that FMDV selectively inhibits RNA methylation.

Transfer RNA methylases during morphogenesis in the cellular slime mold

The enzymes that methylate tRNA were studied during the life cycle of the colonizing slime mold, Dictyostelium discoideum. Total and base specific tRNA methylase activities were determined in extracts from cells in morphogenetic synchrony. Eight hours after enforced aggregation, the total methylase capacity is reduced by about 40 per cent. The diminution appears to be due to the presence of inhibitors that do not inhibit the base specific enzymes to the same extent. There is a still greater diminution in enzyme activity in extracts of the mature fruiting bodies.