Poliovirus induces an early impairment of mitochondrial function by inhibiting succinate dehydrogenase activity

Poliovirus infection of COS-1 and T47D cells caused a rapid decrease in tot al cell respiration, and this was attributed to an inhibition of mitochondr ial respiration. The stimulation of mitochondrial respiration by pyruvate p lus malate or succinate was impaired in saponin-permeabilised cells. Howeve r, this inhibition could be overcome by the addition of N,N,N',N'-tetrameth yl-1,4-phenylenediamine and ascorbate. The activity of succinate dehydrogen ase was impaired in parallel with the inhibition of mitochondrial respirati on during poliovirus infection. This shows that mitochondrial function is p rofoundly altered during poliovirus infection and that this occurs primaril y through inhibition of electron flow at complex II of the mitochondrial re spiratory chain, (C) 2000 Academic Press.