Cell-free synthesis of poliovirus: 14S subunits are the key intermediates in the encapsidation of poliovirus RNA

Abstract

In a cell-free system of uninfected HeLa cells, programmed with poliovirus RNA, extraneous radiolabelled 14S subunits assembled with endogenous 14S subunits and interacted with newly synthesized RNA to form virions (160S). This result suggests that 14S subunits are the key intermediates in the encapsidation of poliovirus RNA.