RNA Polymerase Activity and Inhibition in Herpesvirus-Infected Cells

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Abstract
The activity of the DNA-dependent RNA polymerase (ribonucleotide tri-phosphate:RNA nucleotidyl transferase, EC 2.7.7.6) was present but not proportional to protein concentration in unfractionated extracts of KB cells infected with herpes simplex virus. Chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex demonstrated two peaks of enzyme activity in infected cell extracts that had properties indistinguishable from the enzymes present in uninfected cells and an inhibitor of RNA polymerase activity that was not retained by the DEAE-Sephadex. The inhibitor was not present in uninfected cell extracts and was not formed if protein synthesis was blocked with cyclohexamide at the time of infection. The inhibitor could be partially purified by CM-Sephadex chromatography; it preferentially inhibited the nucleolar enzyme (peak I) and acted by stopping chain elongation. It is probable that this inhibitor of RNA polymerase participates in the reduction of cellular RNA synthesis observed after herpesvirus infection.

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