title: Mode of action of 2-furylmercury chloride, an anti-rhinovirus compound.
abstract: 2-Furylmercury chloride (2-FMC), an organic mercury derivative, has been found to inhibit the replication of all tested human rhinovirus (HRV) serotypes belonging to the antiviral group B and a limited number of HRV serotypes belonging to the antiviral group A. The mechanism of action of 2-FMC was tested against HRV-2 (antiviral group B, minor receptor group), and compared with an antiviral compound for which the viral target was already determined (enviroxime). 2-FMC was found to bind reversibly to virus particles. However, time-dependent plaque reduction assays revealed that 2-FMC did not interfere with early events of HRV-2 replication. Using a quantitative RT-PCR ELISA assay, we were able to prove that 2-FMC inhibits the synthesis of viral RNA. However, the mode of action of 2-FMC is not identical to that of enviroxime, another inhibitor of viral RNA synthesis. Time-of-addition and time-of-withdrawal experiments demonstrated that 2-FMC acted during a broader time interval than enviroxime.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Hygiene, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, Brussels B-1090, Belgium.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Verheyden
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Andries
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rombaut
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001562:Benzimidazoles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005663:Furans / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009941:Organomercury Compounds / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010091:Oximes; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012229:Rhinovirus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D013449:Sulfonamides; D013997:Time Factors; D010948:Viral Plaque Assay; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: C493275:2-furylmercury chloride; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D001562:Benzimidazoles; D005663:Furans; D009941:Organomercury Compounds; D010091:Oximes; D012367:RNA, Viral; D013449:Sulfonamides; D014764:Viral Proteins; C021595:viroxime