INTRACELLULAR PROTEOLYSIS OF POLIOVIRUS ECLIPSE PARTICLES IS ABORTIVE

A series of weak bases and the ionophore monensin were tested for thei r effect on the intracellular processing of type 1 poliovirus in HeLa cells. At concentrations that did not inhibit plaque formation or vira l protein synthesis, the compounds suppressed the proteolytic processi ng of 135S particles and the formation of 110S particles. In addition, some compounds strongly reduced transit of modified particles to the lysosomes. These results suggest that transit to lysosomes and proteol ysis of subviral particles are not essential steps in the infectious p athway. The role of 135S particles as intermediates in infection is di scussed.