Effect of cytochalasin D on cell morphology and AcMNPV replication in a Spodoptera frugiperda cell line.

Cytochalasin D (CD) is a specific inhibitor of actin microfilament elongation and has been used to identify actin-dependent cellular processes. In this study we observed the effects of this inhibitor on Autographa californica M nuclear polyhedrosis virus infected and uninfected IPLB-SF-21 cells by electron microscopy. The cytochalasin D-induced morphological effects detected in uninfected cells included lobulate nuclei, double nuclei, long retraction processes, increased zeiosis, more frequent plasma membrane indentations, increased vacuolation, more numerous coated pits and vesicles, filamentous masses in the cytoplasm, and decreased surface microvilli. Observation of infected cells treated with CD revealed that viral morphogenesis was severely affected. Few normal-appearing nucleocapsids were seen in the nucleus, and none were detected in the cytoplasm. Instead, long capsid-like tubular structures appeared juxtaposed to the inner nuclear membrane. Very infrequently sections of these structures contained electron dense material. The center of the nucleus contained electron-dense, spidery-like structures, presumably viral DNA. Normal virus was not observed to bud from the plasma membrane but electron-lucent, coreless-particles were. By 50 hr postinfection occasional polyhedra appeared, but these contained few or no enveloped virions. The intranuclear fibrous masses normally associated with infection were significantly reduced. These observations suggest that viral morphogenesis, especially nucleocapsid assembly, is an actin-dependent process.