The effects of actinomycin D on RNA synthesis in measles virus-infected cells.

The effect of actinomycin D on the production of genomic RNA, messenger RNA and protein in measles virus-infected cells were investigated. It was found that whereas high concentrations of the drug inhibited genome synthesis, the production of messenger RNA was unaffected and in some cases enhanced. These effects were shown, at least in part, to be due to a secondary effect of the drug which caused an inhibition of virus-specific protein synthesis.