Decay of Moloney leukemia virus production after enucleation of chronically infected mouse cells

The effect of enucleation of synthesis of Moloney leukemia virus was studied in chronically infected YACIR-A9 mouse hybrid cells. The synthesis of infectious virus decreased gradually until, 12 h after enucleation, virtually no infectious virus was produced. As determined by particle-bound p30 and reverse transcriptase, cytoplasts produced a low level of noninfectious viral particles. Thus, the assembly of virus particles does not appear to be wholly dependent on the presence of the cell nucleus. In contrast, production of infectious particles shows an absolute requirement for the cell nucleus.