Effect of PR-8 influenza virus infection on the free amino acid pools of chorioallantoic membranes.

The synthetic capabilities of the host cells have been found to be intimately related to their ability to produce influenza virus. The first study of the relation of synthetic capacities of the host cell to virus growth was done by Ackermann (1951), who showed the role of energy mechanisms in influenza virus reproduction. The relationship of influenza virus production to protein synthesis has been demonstrated by the use of appropriate analogues. Ackermann and Maassab (1955) found that analogues of methionine and phenylalanine will affect the growth process of influenza virus. Tamm et al. (1953) have shown that protein metabolism is closely allied with virus production. Through the use of substituted benzimidazoles, which block vitamin B12 function in chick cells, they were able to inhibit influenza growth in these cells. It would be of further interest to follow the incorporation of amino acids into host protein and virus protein and to determine whether or not differences existed between normal and infected cells during this process. With the discovery of Halvorson and Spiegelman (1953) that changes occurred in the free amino acid pools of yeast cells during the protein synthesis of an adaptive enzyme, a way was opened to investigate the changes occurring in the free amino acid pools of host cells following infection with influenza virus. It was felt that the action of influenza virus on the free amino acid pool of the host cell was a little explored area of virus host relationships and with this method of qualitatively following the changes in free amino acid pools some indication could be obtained on