The Fate of Influenza Virus RNA in Cells Treated with Ultraviolet Rays

The fate of [14C]RNA of fowl plague virus was studied in unirradiated and u.v.-irradiated cultures of chick embryo fibroblasts. U.v.-irradiation of cells did not prevent virus penetration into the cell and deproteinization of virus RNA and its penetration into the cell nucleus. However, RNA penetrating into nuclei of irradiated cells underwent practically complete degradation. RNase activity increased two- to threefold in the nuclear fraction of irradiated cells. This RNase may participate in the process of degradation of virus RNA in nuclei of irradiated cells.