Development of the Antiviral State in Response to Interferon

ABSTRACT The development of resistance in response to interferon depends on cellular RNA synthesis and probably also on cellular protein synthesis. The evidence for these requirements is reviewed, as well as the proposal that this evidence indicates the existence of a specific response of the cell to interferon, in-volving the induced synthesis of an antiviral protein. Direct evidence for such an interpretation has not been obtained, and alternative explanations are dis-cussed which do not require quantitative or qualitative differences in the RNA and protein made in cells exposed to interferon. The possible role of the ribo-some in the antiviral action of interferon is also discussed. When Dr. Merigan asked for a discussion of an aspect of interferon action that was controversial, the selection of such a topic seemed to present little difficulty. However, the topics I will talk about are two which appear to be in danger of becoming noncontroversial. The first relates to the development of resistance and the significance of the requirement this has for cellular RNA and protein synthesis. The second topic I will talk about concerns the possibl