Differences in the UV-crosslinking patterns of the poliovirus 5'-untranslated region with cell proteins from poliovirus-susceptible and -resistant tissues.

The restricted tissue tropism observed in poliovirus infection is not governed solely by the expression of the poliovirus receptor (PVR) gene, but might be controlled at stages beyond virus entry, such as translation, replication, or assembly. Translation of poliovirus RNA by a cap-independent mechanism requires interactions of the 5'-untranslated region (5'UTR) with cell proteins. To determine whether the patterns of these interacting proteins differ in HeLa cells and permissive and nonpermissive tissues, UV-crosslinking assays using the poliovirus 5'UTR and tissue extracts from PVR transgenic mice were performed. The results indicate a correlation between the presence of a 97-kDa UV-crosslinked protein and permissivity to poliovirus infection. Acquired poliovirus susceptibility in in vitro-cultured kidney cells also correlates with the presence of a 97-kDa crosslinked band. The interaction of the 97-kDa protein from HeLa cells and mouse brain with the poliovirus 5'UTR is stable and specific. Whether the 97-kDa protein plays a role in poliovirus translation and tissue susceptibility remains to be determined.