Effect of interferon and poly I: C on DNA fiber propagation in L 929 cells.

Autoradiographic analysis of DNA fiber replication was used to measure the rate of DNA propagation, the distances between initiation points of adjacent replicons and the direction of DNA propagation in L929 cells treated with either interferon or poly I: C, or untreated. Poly I:C ceased by 44% the rate of DNA propagation while the interferon had no effect. Poly I:C but not interferon reduced the mean distance between initiation points by 32%.