Identifying the RNA polymerases that synthesize specific transcripts of the Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus

Abstract

Nuclear run-on assays carried out in the presence and absence of the RNA polymerase II inhibitor, alpha-amanitin, were used to determine the exact timing of the switch from inhibitor-sensitive transcription catalysed by host RNA polymerase II, to inhibitor-resistant transcription catalysed by the baculovirus-induced RNA polymerase. These studies revealed that the onset of alpha-amanitin-resistant transcription is just after 6 h post-infection, simultaneous with the beginning of the late phase of infection. They also showed that transcripts from the p26 gene in the HindIII Q/P region and the p35 gene in the HindIII K/Q region of the viral genome are synthesized by the host RNA polymerase II both early and late in infection. On the other hand, transcripts of the p10 gene in the HindIII Q/P region and the gamma transcripts in the HindIII K region are synthesized by the alpha-amanitin-resistant, virus-induced RNA polymerase late in infection.