Monomeric antivirals

Apart from offering a new and highly specific approach to the inhibition of herpesviruses, this new mechanism of action could potentially also have beneficial immunological consequences. During treatment with BAY 38-4766, viral protein synthesis continues, but due to the lack of monomeric genomic length DNA, only empty particles (dense bodies) can be formed. It is conceivable that these non-infections viral particles could aid the establishment of an antiviral immune response, leading to better control of the virus by the host. This mechanism appears... 

Takemoto and coworkers have prepared a wide variety of monomeric derivatives of a number of nucleic acid bases in order to prepare simple analogs of RNA and DNA (23.24). Some of these synthetic polymers do show base-base interactions that are similar to those observed in natural DNA and RNA materials. Pltha has observed anticancer and antiviral activity for some vinyl derivative polymers of uracil or adenine (25). 

Plant RlPs have been classified into three general types based on structure. Type 1 RlPs are monomeric V-glycosidase enzymes of approximately 30 kDa molecular weight and a basic isoelectric point they share a common secondary stmcture around the rRNA-binding cleft, as well as several specific active-site residues (Barbieri et al., 1993). Type 1 RlPs are frequently found in higher plants, but also have been isolated from at least one mushroom (Yao et al., 1998). The best-studied type 1 RlPs are pokeweed antiviral protein, saporin, and barley translation inhibitor (Nielsen and Boston, 2001). Type 1 RlPs are generally considered nontoxic because they lack an effective cell-binding or internalization apparatus. 

Monomeric nucleosides and nucleotides that interfere with cellular pathways of nucleic acids without making use of specific sequential information (antivirals and cancer antimetabolites). 

Janzen, C., Kochs, G., and Haller, O. (2000). A monomeric GTPase-negative MxA mutant with antiviral activity. J. ViroL 74, 8202-8206. 

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