Activation of a ribosomal protein S6 kinase in mouse fibroblasts during infection with herpesvirus

If confluent fibroblasts are infected with the swine alpha-herpes virus, pseudorabies virus, ribosomal protein S6 becomes phosphorylated after a lag of approximately 2 h. When cell-free extracts were prepared from such cells in the presence of glycerol 2-phosphate and EGTA, a ribosomal protein S6 kinase activity was found to appear at approximately the same time as the phosphorylation in vivo. This protein kinase was similar to that activated in the same cells by replenishing the nutrient medium, and in other quiescent cells by the action of growth factors and mitogens. It was distinct from the previously described pseudorabies virus protein kinase, which is unique to infected cells. When medium from cells infected with pseudorabies virus was freed of virus and added to confluent fibroblasts, rapid activation of the ribosomal protein S6 kinase activity occurred. A similar, although more limited, effect could be seen when the pH of the medium was increased. These results suggest that the phosphorylation of ribosomal protein S6 in cells infected with herpes virus is a consequence of the production of a factor which initiates the metabolic programme for cellular growth. The possible function of this effect in the infective strategy of herpes viruses is discussed in relation to requirements for the replication of viral DNA.