Poly(inosinic acid)-poly(cytidylic acid) inhibition of DNA synthesis in synchronized HeLa cells.

Inhibition by double-stranded polyribonucleotides of DNA synthesis in synchronized HeLa cultures is dose- and time-dependent. Inhibition by poly(I.C) primarily affected late G(1) and early S phases of the cell cycle. Single-stranded polynucleotides, native calf-thymus DNA, and yeast RNA had no effect. Radioautography showed that after 2-hr exposure the synthetic polyribonucleotides were predominantly inside the nucleus. The results extend the spectrum of action of double-stranded RNA.