title: Interferon induction by polynucleotides: structure-function relationship.
abstract: In view of recent developments, the structural determinants of the interferon inducing activity of polynucleotides have been (re)evaluated. To induce interferon, the polynucleotide should be sufficiently large and double-stranded, although not necessarily double-stranded over its whole length. It should be sufficiently stable to both thermal denaturation and hydrolysis by nucleases. It should also contain a particular steric conformation. This conformation is most regularly ensured by the presence of 2'-hydroxyl in the ribose moieties and intact purine-pyrimidine base pairs in the interior of the double helix. Other biologic activities of polynucleotides, such as anti-complement activity and inhibition of reverse transcriptase (RNA-directed DNA polymerase) activity, depend on structural requirements which are rather antagonistic to those governing the interferon response.
mesh_terms: D006358:Hot Temperature; D006900:Hydroxylation; D007369:Interferon Inducers; D007372:Interferons / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D011131:Polyribonucleotides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012260:Ribonucleases; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D007369:Interferon Inducers; D011131:Polyribonucleotides; D007372:Interferons; D012260:Ribonucleases