Note to users. If you're seeing this message, it means that your browser cannot find this page's style/presentation instructions -- or possibly that you are using a browser that does not support current Web standards. Find out more about why this message is appearing, and what you can do to make your experience of our site the best it can be.

Science 30 October 1964:
Vol. 146. no. 3644, pp. 650 - 651
DOI: 10.1126/science.146.3644.650
Prev | Table of Contents | Next

Articles

Effects of Polycyclic Aromatic Carcinogens on Viral Replication: Similarity to Actinomycin D

Edward de Maeyer 1 and Jaqueline de Maeyer-Guignard 1

1 Department of Virology, Rega Institute, University of Louvain, Louvain, Belgium

When incorporated into a nutrient overlay, the carcinogenic hydrocarbons benzo[a]pyrene and 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene inhibit plaque formation by herpes virus and vaccinia virus, DNA viruses, but not by Sindbis virus, an RNA virus. These carcinogens also decrease herpes and vaccinia virus yields in liquid medium, without affecting Sindbis virus yields. Four structurally related, but noncarcinogenic polycyclic hydrocarbons, namely benzo[e]pyrene, pyrene, benz[a]anthracene and anthracene, have no inhibitory effect on DNA virus replication. Taken together with the known inhibition of interferon production, these effects on virus growth resemble the action of actinomycin D and hence provide evidence for a selective interaction of these carcinogens with DNA.


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Polyinosinic-Polycytidylic Acid Inhibits Chemically Induced Tumorigenesis in Mouse Skin.
H. V. Gelboin and H. B. Levy (1970)
Science 167, 205-207
   Abstract »    PDF »


To Advertise     Find Products

Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)