Broad spectrum antiviral agent ribavirin inhibits capping of mRNA

Journal Article · Mon Aug 13 04:00:00 EDT 1979 · Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0006-291X(79)91853-9· OSTI ID:5631755

Goswami, B B ^[1]; Borek, E; Sharma, O K; Fujitaki, J; Smith, R A

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1. Univ. of Colorado, Denver

Ribavirin (1-..beta..-D-ribofuranosyl-1,2,4-triazole-3-carboxamide) is a broad spectrum antiviral substance active against a wide range of both DNA and RNA viruses. It is, however, virtually inactive against polio virus. Its pharmacological mechanism of action was obscure. A possible common target for a chemotherapeutic agent in both DNA and RNA viruses is the capping reaction of mRNAs which inter alia involves the formation of a guanine pyrophosphate structure at the 5' terminus by mRNA guanylyl transferase. We have observed that Ribavirin triphosphate is a potent competitive inhibitor of the capping guanylation of viral mRNA. This finding could account for the antiviral potency of the drug against both DNA and RNA viruses and its ineffectiveness against a virus in which the mRNAs derived from them are not capped.

• OSTI ID: 5631755
• Journal Information: Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun.; (United States), Journal Name: Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun.; (United States) Vol. 89:3; ISSN BBRCA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550600* -- Medicine
550700 -- Microbiology
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
AMINES
ANTI-INFECTIVE AGENTS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL PATHWAYS
DRUGS
ENZYME INHIBITORS
ENZYMES
GUANINE
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
MESSENGER-RNA
MICROORGANISMS
NUCLEIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
PARASITES
PHARMACOLOGY
POLIO VIRUS
PURINES
RNA
SENSITIVITY
TRANSFERASES
VIRUSES