Formation of vaccinia virus DNA-protein complex in the presence of isatin beta thiosemicarbazone (IBT).

The association of newly synthesized vaccinia virus DNA with proteins in infected HeLa cells was followed. A shift from a high density to a low density complex occurred between 3 and 6 h after infection. This process was not affected by isatin beta thiosemicarbazone (IBT), an inhibitor of pox virus growth. At 22 h after infection in the absence of IBT, mature virions of high density were observed; however, in the presence of the drug, high density DNA-protein complexes, which lack the two main virus core polypeptides, were formed.