Open AccessMechanism of selective inhibition of human cytomegalovirus replication by 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosyl-5-fluorouracil
Author(s) -
Satoru Suzuki,
Mineo Saneyoshi,
Chikao Nakayama,
Yukihiro Nishiyama,
Shonen Yoshida
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.07
H-Index - 259
eISSN - 1070-6283
pISSN - 0066-4804
DOI - 10.1128/aac.28.2.326
Subject(s) - human cytomegalovirus , dna polymerase , dna synthesis , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , thymidylate synthase , thymidine , dna replication , fluorouracil , thymidine kinase , viral replication , polymerase , herpes simplex virus , virology , dna , virus , biochemistry , chemotherapy , genetics
Four kinds of 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosyl-5-halogenouracil were examined for inhibition of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and 2 (HSV-2) replication. 1-beta-D-Arabinofuranosyl-5-fluorouracil (ara-FU) was the most effective against HCMV, whereas 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosyl-5-bromouracil was the most effective against HSV-1 and HSV-2. The mechanism of action of ara-FU on HCMV replication was also studied. The dTTP pool size in human embryonic fibroblasts was increased 33-fold by HCMV infection. However, treatment with ara-FU decreased the size of the dTTP pool by approximately 50%. On the other hand, 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosyl-5-fluorouracil-5'-triphosphate inhibited HCMV DNA polymerase activity competitively with dTTP. These results suggest that ara-FU acts as a bifunctional inhibitor of HCMV replication. Ara-FU is phosphorylated by cellular thymidine kinase to 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosyl-5-fluorouracil-5'-monophosphate, which inhibits cellular thymidylate synthetase, which in turn decreases the dTTP pool size in infected cells. As the dTTP pool size is reduced, inhibition of viral DNA polymerase by 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosyl-5-fluorouracil-5'-triphosphate becomes more efficient.