Poliovirus mutant that contains a cold-sensitive defect in viral RNA synthesis.

By manipulating an infectious cDNA clone of poliovirus, we have introduced a single-codon insertion into the 3A region of the viral genome which has been proposed to encode a functional precursor of the virion-linked protein VPg. The resulting mutant was cold sensitive in monkey kidney cells. Viral RNA synthesis was poor at 32.5 degrees C, although no other function of the virus was obviously affected. The synthesis of both positive and negative strands was severely depressed. Temperature shift experiments suggest that a normal level of production of the affected function was required only during the early (exponential) phase of RNA synthesis. Analysis of viral polyprotein processing at the nonpermissive temperature revealed that some of the normal cleavages were not made, most likely as a consequence of the defect in RNA synthesis or as a result of the concomitant reduction in the level of virally encoded proteases.