CELLULAR-ORIGIN AND ULTRASTRUCTURE OF MEMBRANES INDUCED DURING POLIOVIRUS INFECTION

Poliovirus RNA replicative complexes are associated with cytoplasmic m embranous structures that accumulate during viral infection, These mem branes were immunoisolated by using a monoclonal antibody against the viral nonstructural protein 2C. Biochemical analysis of the isolated m embranes revealed that several organelles of the host cell (lysosomes, trans-Golgi stack and trans-Golgi network, and endoplasmic reticulum) contributed to the virus-induced membranous structures. Electron micr oscopy of infected cells preserved by high-pressure freezing revealed that the virus-induced membranes contain double lipid bilayers that su rround apparently cytosolic material. Immunolabeling experiments showe d that poliovirus proteins 2C and 3D were localized to the same membra nes as the cellular markers tested, The morphological and biochemical data are consistent with the hypothesis that autophagy or a similar ho st process is involved in the formation of the poliovirus-induced memb ranes.