DNA replication in SV40-infected cells. XI. The properties of SV40 DNA and nucleoprotein complex synthesized in the presence of cycloheximide.

Cycloheximide inhibits simian virus 40 (SV40) DNA synthesis in productively infected African green monkey kidney cells. The residual viral DNA synthesized in the presence of this drug is deficient in superhelical turns as measured by band sedimentation in the presence of several concentrations of ethidium bromide. The superhelical density of SV40 DNA synthesized in the presence of cycloheximide is about one half that of viral DNA produced in the absence of this drug. Ribonuclease H and alkali treatment were employed to determine if ribonucleotides could be detected in closed circular SV40 DNA synthesized in the presence of cycloheximide. While both these approaches detected ribonucleotides in mitochondrial DNA, no identification of ribonucleotides in SV40 DNA synthesized in the presence of cycloheximide was found. The SV40 nucleoprotein complex synthesized in the presence of cycloheximide has a slower sedimentation rate (35S) and a higher bouyant density (1.54 g/cm3) than the complex made in the absence of this drug (50S; 1.47 g/cm3). The protein:DNA ratio of the SV40 nucleoprotein complex is normally about 0.9. This ratio is reduced to about 0.6 when the complex is synthesized in the presence of cycloheximide.