Selective diminishment of virus-specific translatable mRNA in the densonucleosis virus-infected midgut of the silkworm, Bombyx mori, reared at a supraoptimal temperature.

Effect of a supraoptimal temperature on the accumulation of virus-specific translatable mRNAs was examined in the larvae of the silkworm. Bombyx mori, infected with Bombyx densonucleosis virus type 2. The results showed that incubation of infected larvae at 35 degrees C resulted in a rapid and selective decrease in the virus-specific translatable mRNAs which preexisted in the infected midgut. Upon temperature-shift from 35 degrees to 25 degrees C, the virus-specific translatable mRNAs became clearly observed within 12 hr. These results indicate that a supraoptimal temperature restricts the accumulation of virus-specific translatable mRNAs. Both rapid decay and suppressed synthesis might be responsible for the selective restriction of virus-specific translatable mRNA accumulation at a supraoptimal temperature.