Sequence of protein synthesis in cells infected by human cytomegalovirus: early and late virus-induced polypeptides.

At least 10 distinct early virus-induced polypeptides were synthesized within 0 to 6 h after infection of permissive cells with cytomegalovirus. These virus-induced polypeptides were synthesized before and independently of viral DNA replication. A majority of these early virus-induced polypeptides were also synthesized in nonpermissive cells, which do not permit viral DNA replication. The virus-induced polypeptides synthesized before viral DNA replication were hypothesized to be nonstructural proteins coded for by the cytomegalovirus genome. Their synthesis was found to be a sequential process, since three proteins preceded the synthesis of the others. Synthesis of all early cytomegalovirus-induced proteins was a transient process; the proteins reached their highest molar ratios before the onset of viral DNA replication. Late viral proteins were synthesized at the time of the onset of viral DNA replication, which was approximately 15 h after infection. Their synthesis was continuous and increased in molar ratios with the accumulation of newly synthesized viral DNA in the cells. The presence of the amino acid analog canavanine or azetadine during the early stage of infection suppressed viral DNA replication. The amount of viral DNA synthesis was directly correlated to the relative amount of late viral protein synthesis. Because synthesis of late viral proteins depended upon viral DNA replication, the proteins were not detected in permissive cells treated with an inhibitor of viral DNA synthesis or in nonpermissive cells that are restrictive for cytomegalovirus DNA replication.