The adenovirus E1B 55 kd protein influences mRNA transport via an intranuclear effect on RNA metabolism.

The adenovirus type 5 early region 1B encodes a 55 kd polypeptide that functions after transcription and processing to facilitate cytoplasmic accumulation of late viral mRNAs during lytic infection. A virus, dl338, carrying a deletion within the coding region for the 55 kd product, was found to be cold-sensitive for growth. Accumulation of late viral mRNAs was more severely inhibited at 32 than at 37 degrees C in dl338-infected cells. The metabolism of late viral transcripts was analysed within the nucleus of dl338-infected cells at 32 degrees C. Late viral mRNAs failed to accumulate efficiently within a nuclear compartment defined by specific RNA extraction conditions. Normally, RNA accumulated within this operationally defined compartment after leaving the nuclear matrix and before associating with the nuclear envelope. These results indicate that the 55 kd polypeptide encoded by early region 1B facilitates an intranuclear step in the metabolism of viral mRNAs, resulting in improved transport of these RNAs to the cytoplasm.