Ribonucleic Acid-primed Synthesis of RNA following Viral Infection

Abstract

THERE are several possible mechanisms for the replication of RNA in RNA viruses. Viral RNA may induce synthesis of DNA followed by a DNA directed synthesis of viral RNA or, alternatively, there may be direct synthesis of RNA on an RNA template from the infecting virus. In order to distinguish between these two alternatives, the activities of the polymerase enzymes, DNA nucleotidyltransferase and the DNA-primed and RNA-primed RNA nucleotidyltransferases of normal Krebs II mouse ascites tumour cells and of cells infected with encephalomyocarditis virus¹ have been investigated.