Inhibition of viral reverse transcriptase by 2′,5′-oligoadenylates

Abstract

Viral reverse transcriptase activity was inhibited in a concentation dependent manner by 2′,5′-oligoadenylate. Kinetically this inhibition was of a mixed type where 2′,5′-oligoadenylate was not strictly competitive with dTTP. The potency of inhibition was more marked in the absence than in the presence of sulfhydryl agents. 2′,5′-oligoadenylate had no effect on DNA-dependent E. coli DNA polymerase and was much less active against mammalian DNA polymerases. This is the first report of reverse transcriptase inhibition by an inducible constitutive natural ligand.