Effect of pentosan polysulfate (SP 54) on the reverse transcriptase activity of several retroviruses

Pentosan polysulfate (SP 54), a low molecular weight sulfated polysaccharide, was studied in vitro for its effect on the reverse transcriptase activity of seven retroviruses. Six of them possess an enzyme with high sensitivity against SP 54, while the enzyme of one virus (bovine leucosis virus) proved to be insensitive within the concentration range tested. In comparison with other polyanionic compounds so far tested, SP 54 seems to be one of the most active in vitro inhibitors of retrovirus-specific reverse transcriptase.