Incorporation of¹⁴C-labeled carbohydrates, pyrimidines, lipid components and amino acids into Lee influenza virus and chorioallantoic tissue in culture

Summary

The quantities of thirty¹⁴C labeled metabolites incorporated into chorioallantoic tissue from a glucose balanced saline medium and the relative contribution of each to Lee influenza virus replicating in such tissue were measured. All labeled compounds were taken up by the tissue in significant amounts, ranging from a minimum of 5.0 micromoles per 100 mg of dry tissue for stearic acid to a maximum of 45.1 micromoles for sodium acetate. One group of metabolites was apparently selectively utilized in the synthesis of new virus, as they contributed¹⁴C to the latter to a much greater extent than would be expected if their relative concentrations in the tissue were the major determining factor. This group included leucine, glutamic acid, sodium acetate, sodium butyrate and cholesterol. A second group made smaller contributions to the virus than might have been expected on the same basis. In this group were D-ribose, uracil, choline and ethanolamine. Thymine and L-fucose made no measurable contribution. The relative amounts of 7 other amino acids and of 4 long chain fatty acids contributing to the virus were similar to the relative uptake of these compounds by the tissue. A reasonable interpretation and possible implications of the results are discussed.