Inhibition of polyoma virus development in mouse–hamster heterokaryons

Abstract

Mouse cells which normally permitted polyoma virus development, and hamster cells which were non-permissive (BHK-21 and polyoma virus-transformed hamster cells), were subjected to cell-fusion techniques, and the resultant cultures were examined for the capacity of heterokaryons to yield polyoma viral capsid protein. Little or no capsid protein was synthesized in the heterokaryons, although individual mouse cells and mouse homokaryons gave normal yields. Furthermore, the hamster cell inhibitory effect manifested itself even when the mouse cells had been infected with the virus before cell fusion.