The effect of cerulenin on the synthesis of the precursor gag polyprotein in defective murine leukemia and sarcoma virus producing cell lines.

The effect of cerulenin, an inhibitor of de novo fatty acid (and cholesterol) biosynthesis, on the synthesis of the precursor gag polyprotein, Pr65gag in a defective murine leukemia virus (334C) producing murine cell line (3JE) and a defective murine sarcoma virus (Gazdar) producing hamster cell line (HTG-2) was examined. In contrast to Moloney murine leukemia virus (M-MuLV) producing cell lines (MJD-54, clone 2) the amount of the Pr65gag remaining in the presence of cerulenin (20 micrograms/ml) was greatly reduced in both defective virus-infected cells. This effect appears specific for the Pr65gag polyprotein, since the env precursor polyprotein Pr80env was normally synthesized and remained undegraded in cerulenin-treated 3JE-infected cells. Thin-section electron micrographs showed an increased accumulation of virion particles in vesicles of treated HTG-2 cells.