Biogenesis of poxviruses: Glycolipid metabolism in vaccinia-infected cells

Vaccinia virus induces changes in glycolipid composition of cultured L and HeLa cells as monitored either by [¹⁴C]galactose incorporation or by analysis for carbohydrate. In cells sampled 12 hr after inoculation labeling of the least complex mono- and dihexosylceramide glycolipid species is enhanced. During later phases of the infection incorporation into all glycolipid classes declines to levels below those of the uninfected controls. Purified virus derived from cells harvested 24 hr after infection contains the same relative amounts of glycolipid as those present in host cells whose composition has been altered by the infection. Similar analogous alterations in glycolipids to those observed in vaccinia-infected cells were found to occur in uninfected cells treated with inhibitors which affect translation. This implies that the changes arising from vaccinia infection may be the consequence of virus-mediated suppression of host protein synthesis, which also affects the activity of enzymes involved in production of glycolipids.