Posttranscriptional block to adenovirus replication in nonpermissive monkey cells

Events occurring during the abortive infection of monkey cells by human adenoviruses have been compared to those occurring during the complete replicative cycle which results from adenovirus and SV40 coinfection of these cells. Previous studies had indicated a block to replication at a posttranscriptional level. This paper describes the examination of two posttranscriptional events: attachment of polyadenylic acid sequences to adenovirus mRNA, and association of this mRNA with polyribosomes. Posttranscriptional addition of poly(A) sequences to mRNA appears to take place normally in the absence of SV40 coinfection. "Late" adenovirus mRNA, though synthesized in the nonpermissive infection, appears to be deficient in its association with polyribosomes. This finding is consistent with the previously described defect in late adenovirus protein synthesis in the unenhanced infection of monkey cells.