Mode of action of Zn-complexes on herpes simplex virus type 1 infection in vitro

The influence of Zn-complexes with biologically active ligands like aminoacids: picolinic acid as Zn(pic)2 and asparaginic acid as Zn(asp)2 on HSV-1 infection in vitro was investigated. Studies on kinetics of Zn-ions using labeled 65Zn(pic)2 as a marker, show that at the 45th min Zn-ions are exposed onto or into cells. When cells were infected 60min after the treatment with 65Zn(pic)2, 1h later the activity of Zn-ions in the cell fraction decreased while in the medium increased. This result shows that soon after the infection cells expelled part of their Zn. If Zn(pic)2 or Zn(asp)2 are added at the end of the adsorption period, ICP4 and ICP8 are localized in the cytoplasm but not in the nucleus of infected cells, while the synthesis of gH is decreased. A sharply increased number of nucleocapsids with low electron density cores was also found.