Double-stranded poliovirus RNA inhibits initiation of protein synthesis by reticulocyte lysates

Infection of HeLa cells with poliovirus results in an inhibition of host-cell protein synthesis. Cytoplasmic extracts from infected cells contian an activity that inhibits initiation of protein synthesis in vitro by rabbit reticulocyte lysates. This inhibitory activity has been purified and characterized, and is shown to reside in poliovirus double-stranded RNA. The intact double-stranded molecule is not essential for inhibitory activity.