Na+ and K+ Concentration and Regulation of Protein Synthesis in L-A9 and Aedes albopictus Cells Infected with Marituba Virus (Bunyaviridae)

Infection of L-A9 cells with Marituba virus produces a severe inhibition of protein synthesis. This inhibition is temporally correlated with an increase in the intracellular Na⁺ concentration and a decrease in the intracellular K⁺ concentration. However in Marituba virus-infected Aedes albopictus cells the intracellular level of Na⁺ and K⁺ ions and protein synthesis remained unaltered. Incubation of both cell types at high NaCl concentration facilitated the translation of viral RNA whereas the cellular protein synthesis was inhibited. Using a hypotonic medium, the opposite was found. Results are discussed in terms of a possible involvement of these ions in the viral translational process.