Reduced steady-state levels of vaccinia virus-specific early mRNAs in interferon-treated chick embryo fibroblasts.

The molecular mechanism of interferon action on vaccinia virus-specific immediate early protein synthesis was studied in interferon-treated chick cells. In line with previous observations, the synthesis of total vaccinia WR virus-specific mRNA, thymidine kinase (TK) mRNA, and several other early mRNAs was detectable by short [3H]uridine pulses. Under conditions of over 90% inhibition of poxvirus-specific TK induction, accumulation of TK mRNA was strongly inhibited. Northern blot analysis revealed strong degradation of residual TK mRNA prepared from interferon-treated chick embryo fibroblasts (CEF). Blot hybridization analysis using total vaccinia DNA and restriction fragment N as probes demonstrated a generally reduced steady-state amount of vaccinia virus-specific early mRNAs in interferon-treated CEF. When CEF were infected with a recombinant vaccinia virus strain into the TK gene of which the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene had been inserted, CAT activity was far lower in interferon-treated than in untreated CEF. We conclude that signals that specify rapid breakdown of viral TK mRNA in interferon-treated CEF are located in the regions flanking the coding sequences of the viral TK gene.