Inhibition of synthesis of herpesvirus (HSV-1) glycoproteins and endogenous fusion by beta-hydroxynorvaline in BHK-21 cells.

Treatment of HSV-infected BHK-21 cells with 5-10 mM of beta-hydroxynorvaline (Hnv), an analog of threonine which blocked attachment of oligosaccharides at the Asn-X-Thr sites, markedly inhibited the synthesis of all viral glycoproteins as well as the major capsid protein. However, the synthesis of host-specific dolichol-linked oligosaccharides was not significantly affected by Hnv. Treatment of cells with 10 mM reduced the yield of virus greater than 95% and completely blocked endogenous fusion. Inhibition of Hnv could be reversed by simultaneous addition of threonine to the culture medium. It is likely that the incorporation of Hnv into HSV polypeptides at Asn-X-Thr (in place of Thr) sites blocked transfer of N-linked oligosaccharides.