Poly-8-oxyinosinic acid

Poly(8-oxyinosinic acid) (poly O8I), was synthesized by polymerizing 8-oxyinosine diphosphate using the enzyme polynucleotide phosphorylase (PNPase). The polymer formed a 1 : 1 hybrid with polycytidylic acid (poly C). The hybrid was found to induce the production of interferon in the brain of white albino mice and protected mice against Wesselsbron virus (H 10964).