The Effect of Homologous Nuclear RNA and Infectious RNA of the Virus of VEE on the Biosynthesis of RNA and Protein in Isolated Rat Liver Mitochondria

The penetration of homologous nuclear RNA into mitochondria does not affect the incorporation of C14-uridine into RNA, but does stimulate the incorporation of C14 amino acids into the protein of mitochondria. This effect increases in the presence of actinomycin D, which inhibits autonomous template synthesis in mitochondria. Viral RNA strongly inhibits the incorporation of C14-uridine in the RNA of mitochondria, while in the presence of inhibition of DNA-dependent RNA synthesis by actinomycin D, the addition of infectious RNA is followed by stimulation of RNA synthesis. This effect reflects relication of viral genomes in mitochondria, a fact corroborated by the presence of newly formed virus-specific components of RNA in sedimentograms. In the presence of actinomycin D, viral RNA also stimulates protein synthesis in mitochondria.