Synthesis and transport of herpes simplex virus proteins in arginine-deprived BSC-1 cells.

The synthesis and transport of [35S]methionine-labeled peptides from the cytoplasm to the nucleus of herpes simplex virus-infected cells was studied by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, using autoradiography of the labeled peptides, In complete medium the transport of proteins from the cytoplasm to the nucleus is a selective process and different peptides are transported at different rates. In arginine-deficient medium, the synthesis of viral peptides in the cytoplasm is reduced and the labeled proteins are transported slowly to the nucleus. These viral peptides gradually disappear from the cytoplasm, suggesting degradation of the synthesized proteins.