Influenza-C-virion-associated RNA-dependent RNA-polymerase activity.

The addition of detergent-solubilized influenza C virus to a reaction mixture containing ATP, CTP, GTP, [3H]UTP, and Mg2+ leads to the synthesis of an acid-insoluble, radioactive product, which is ribonuclease-sensitive. The dinucleoside monophosphate ApG clearly enhances the reaction rate, a fact which indicates that influenza C viruses follow the same strategy of transcription as influenza A and B viruses, the other members of the orthomyxovirus family.