The Journal of Experimental Medicine, Vol 123, 17-24,
Copyright © 1966 by The Rockefeller University Press
THE ROLE OF METHIONINE DEFICIENCY IN POLIOVIRUS REPLICATION IN TISSUE CULTURES
Soussan Mohajer Ph.D.1 and
Janis Gabliks Ph.D.1
1 From the Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge
The role of methionine in poliovirus infection in HeLa and monkey kidney cells was investigated by using the methionine analogue l-ethionine. In the presence of 2.0 x 103 and 4.0 x 103 moles ethionine, the growth of HeLa and monkey kidney cells was significantly inhibited. Under the same experimental conditions, ethionine had no significant effect on the biosynthesis of two strains of poliovirus (Mahoney and Lansing) in HeLa cells, whereas in primary monkey kidney cells, it markedly inhibited the biosynthesis of the Lansing strain of poliovirus. HeLa cells partly depleted of their intracellular amino acids did not change the rate of viral biosynthesis.
The inhibitory effect of ethionine on cell growth and viral biosynthesis was reversed by addition of an excess of l-methionine.
Submitted on August 31, 1965