Poliovirus single-stranded RNA and double-stranded RNA: differential infectivity in enucleate cells

The ability of poliovirus virion RNA and double-stranded RNA (replicative form) to replicate in enucleate mouse L cells was investigated. Virion RNA replicated successfully in the absence of the cell nucleus, whereas replicative form infection did not produce any detectable progeny in enucleate cells. The results provide direct evidence of a nuclear requirement early in the infection initiated by replicative form RNA.