Inhibition of vesicular stomatitis virus protein synthesis and infection by sequence-specific oligodeoxyribonucleoside methylphosphonates.
Oligodeoxyribonucleoside methylphosphonates which have sequences complementary to the initiation codon regions of N, NS, and G vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) mRNAs were tested for their ability to inhibit translation of VSV mRNA in a cell-free system and in VSV-infected mouse L cells. In a rabbit reticulocyte lysate cell-free system, the oligomers complementary to N (oligomer I) and NS (oligomer II) mRNAs inhibited translation of VSV N and NS mRNAs whereas oligomer III had only a slight inhibitory effect on N protein synthesis. At 100 and 150 microM, oligomer I specifically inhibited N protein synthesis in the lysate. In contrast, at 150 microM, oligomer II inhibited both N and NS protein synthesis. This reduced specificity of inhibition may be due to the formation of partial duplexes between oligomer II and VSV N mRNA. The oligomers had little or no inhibitory effects on the synthesis of globin mRNA in the same lysate system. Oligomers I-III specifically inhibited the synthesis of all five viral proteins in VSV-infected cells in a concentration-dependent manner. The oligomers had no effects on cellular protein synthesis in uninfected cells nor on cell growth. An oligothymidylate which forms only weak duplexes with poly(rA) had just a slight effect on VSV protein synthesis and yield of virus. Oligomers I-III have extensive partial complementarity with the coding regions of L mRNA. The nonspecific inhibition of viral protein synthesis in infected cells may reflect the role of N, NS, and/or L proteins in the replication and transcription of viral RNA or result from duplex formation between the oligomers and complementary, plus-strand viral RNA.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D003853:Deoxyribonucleosides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005914:Globins / Q000235:genetics; D007739:L Cells; D051379:Mice; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D014721:Vesicular stomatitis Indiana virus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
D003853:Deoxyribonucleosides; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014764:Viral Proteins; D005914:Globins