The Influence of Chemicals on the Propagation of Poliomyelitis Virus in Tissue Culture

Abstract

Summary Various compounds have been tested for their ability to inhibit the propagation of poliomyelitis virus in tissue culture. Five of nine analogues of amino acids, cysteic acid, dl-ethionine, N-dichloroacetyl-α-(p-nitrophenyl) glycine, α-amino-β-phenylethane sulfonic acid, and β-2-thienylalanine were found to inhibit viral growth. Benzimidazole, 2,6-diaminopurine, and proflavin, all compounds involved in nucleic acid synthesis, were also effective inhibitors. The vitamin analogues as a group were ineffective, but one of these, dl-homobiotin, was found to be active. Glycerol monoacetin, an antagonist of fluoroacetate and phagopedin sigma, an antibiotic, were also found to be inhibitory. The specificity of action of two analogues of amino acids, ethionine and β-2-thienylalanine, and of two metabolic analogues of purines, benzimidazole and 2,6-diaminopurine, was shown by the partial reversal of their inhibitory effect with the appropriate metabolites. These metabolites, d-methionine, dlphenylalanine, adenine, guanine, and uracil are therefore shown to be essential for the growth of poliomyelitis virus in tissue culture.