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Science 11 June 1971:
Vol. 172. no. 3988, pp. 1146 - 1148
DOI: 10.1126/science.172.3988.1146
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Articles

Antiviral Resistance by the Polyinosinic Acid-Poly(1-vinylcytosine) Complex

Josef Pitha 1 and Paula M. Pitha 2

1 Gerontology Research Center, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Baltimore City Hospitals, Baltimore, Maryland 21224
2 Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland

The antiviral activities of analogs of the double-stranded complex of polyinosinic and polycytidylic acids [poly(I)·poly(C)], which is a potent interferon inducer, have been studied. Structural changes that modify the polymer backbone substantially, such as loops or 2' rarr 5' phosphodiester bonds, lead to decreased antiviral activity. Unexpectedly, however, the complex of polyinosinic acid and poly(1-vinylcytosine), which is only a much more distantly related analog of poly(I) · poly(C), shows high activity. It is postulated that the high activity is related to the reduction of the charge/mass ratio and to the existence of this complex in an aggregated state; these are two factors that generally enhance the uptake of compo unds by cells.

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