Nucleic Acids Research, 1975, Vol. 2, No. 12 2305-2314
© 1975
Articles |
Inhibition of oncornavirus functions by poly (2-methylthioinosinic acid)
Rega Institute for Medical Research, University of Leuven Leuven, Belgium *Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University Toyonaka, Osaka, Japan
Received November 6, 1975. Poly (2-methylthioinosinic acid) [poly(ms2I)] was found to markedly inhibit the RNA directed DNA polymerase (reverse transcriptase) activity of murine (Moloney, Rauscher) leukemia virus and murine (Moloney) sarcoma virus, while under the same conditions the unsubstituted parent compound poly(I) showed little, if any, inhibitory effect. Copolymers of inosinic acid (I) and 2-methylthioinosinic acid (ms2I) showed an intermediary effect, depending on the I:ms2I ratio. Poly(ms2I) also inhibited the transformation of normal cells by murine (Moloney) sarcoma virus, as assessed by an infectious center assay.