Binding of polyriboinosinic-polyribocytidylic acid with cultured cells

Homogenates prepared from polyriboinosinic-polyribocytidylic acid copolymer [poly(rI) - poly(rC)]-treated cells exhibited antiviral activity in chick embryo, L and rabbit kidney cells. The antiviral activity in the homogenate co-sedimented with cellular membrane material and was shown to be poly(rI) - poly(rC) by a hybridization competition test with immobilized polyribocytidylic acid. The results indicate that poly(rI) - poly(rC) binds firmly to cellular membrane. These studies, however, could not differentiate between specific binding leading to the interferon induction and non-specific binding possibly unrelated to the induction of interferon.