An inhibitor of the particle-associated RNA-dependent RNA polymerase of influenza A and B viruses.

Abstract

SUMMARY Selenocystamine dihydrochloride (0.003 mm) inhibited particle-associated RNA-dependent RNA polymerase activity of influenza B/LEE/40, influenza A/WSN/34 (H0 N1), A/RI-5+ (H2 N2), recombinant A/RI-5+ (N2)-A/WSN/34 (H0) and recombinant A/KOREA/68 (H2)-A/BEL (N1) in vitro. The structurally related compounds L-cystine, cystamine and N,N′-diacetyl selenocystamine were less active and inhibited influenza B/LEE particle-associated RNA-dependent RNA polymerase activity by 50% at concentrations of >0.3, 0.3 and 0.018 mm, respectively. Particle-associated RNA-dependent RNA polymerase activity was inhibited immediately by addition of selenocystamine. The inhibitory activity of 0.01 mm-selenocystamine was reversed completely by the addition of 0.06 mm-β-mercaptoethanol and partially by dialysis of a virus-selenocystamine mixture. High concentrations (3 mm) of the compound had no detectable effect on influenza virus haemagglutinin or neuraminidase activities, but virus infectivity was reduced significantly after incubation with 0.03 mm-selenocystamine.