title: Enhanced antiviral activity and altered subcellular distribution of magnesium/poly r(A-U) combinations.
abstract: When Mg2+ or ethidium bromide (EB) were combined with poly r(A-U) at a ligand/ribonucleotide ratio of 1/4, the antiviral activity of the Mg2+ and EB increased 136-fold and 154-fold. Eriochrome Blue SE was employed to visualize the subcellular distribution of Mg2+ following co-incubation of Human Foreskin Fibroblasts (HSF) with Mg2+ alone or with the Mg2+/poly r(A-U) combination. Phase contrast micrographs of these Mg(2+)-treated HSF cells as well as phase contrast and fluorescence micrographs of EB-treated or EB/poly r(A-U)-treated HSF cells illustrated that the Mg2+ (or EB)/poly r(A-U) combinations display altered subcellular distribution with the Mg2+ and EB being localized in the nucleoli and chromatin of the HSF cells. These results suggest that modulation of nuclear processes may be responsible for the enhanced antiviral activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology/Immunology, Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine, Rootstown 44272.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Krabill
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Jamison
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gilloteaux
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Summers
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002843:Chromatin / Q000187:drug effects; D004996:Ethidium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008274:Magnesium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009697:Nucleolus Organizer Region / Q000187:drug effects*; D011063:Poly A-U / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014721:Vesicular stomatitis Indiana virus / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D002843:Chromatin; D011063:Poly A-U; D004996:Ethidium; D008274:Magnesium