Two interferon sensitive steps in the replication cycle of Rous sarcoma virus.

De novo infection of Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) strains of receptor subgroups A, B, C, and D is inhibited by low doses of chick interferon. Adsorption and penetration into the cell are not marginally impaired by interferon treatment. Since the level of proviral DNA synthesis is strongly reduced in the interferon-treated cell it is concluded that uncoating or reverse transcription of the viral genome is inhibited. This inhibition of proviral DNA synthesis is not caused by an arrest of CEF in the stationary phase. Chronic infection of SR-RSV-A, -B, -C, but not SR-RSV-D is also sensitive to interferon. Chick interferon treatment (50 u/ml) also had no inhibitory effect on the amount of transcripts of the RSV-specific oncogene src or the cellular oncogenes src and myc.