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Inhibition of herpes simplex virus DNA replication by ara-tubercidin
S R Turk1, P D Cook, C M Reinke
1Department of Oral Biology, School of Dentistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 48109.
Abstract:
Preliminary studies of the biochemical basis for the antiviral activity of the pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine nucleoside ara-tubercidin were conducted. Herpes simplex virus DNA synthesis was 3-fold more sensitive to inhibition by ara-tubercidin than was cellular DNA synthesis. Partially purified herpes DNA polymerases were more sensitive to inhibition by ara-tubercidin 5'-triphosphate than were cellular polymerases alpha and beta. Inhibition of viral DNA polymerase was competitive with dATP and noncompetitive with dTTP. The results suggest that the viral DNA polymerase plays a significant role in the antiviral activity of ara-tubercidin.