Stimulation by inlfuenza virus RNA of 3H-phenylalanine incorporation in a cell-free system.

Purified and unpurified cell-free systems prepared from the chorioallantoic membrane of embryonated eggs were tested for polypeptide synthesis in the presence and absence of influenza virus RNA. Both systems exhibited an endogenous messenger activity determining 3H-phenylalanine incorporation into polypeptides in the absence of virus RNA. However, addition of influenza virus RNA to the systems clearly stimulated amino acid incorporation into polypeptides, offering the possibility of studying some aspects of the viral protein biosynthesis mechanism.