Inhibitory properties of nucleic acid-binding ligands on protein synthesis

FEBS Lett. 2005 Jan 3;579(1):79-89. doi: 10.1016/j.febslet.2004.06.103.

Abstract

The use of small molecule inhibitors in the study of cellular processes is a powerful approach to understanding gene function. During the course of a high throughput screen for novel inhibitors of eukaryotic translation, we identified a number of nucleic acid binding ligands that showed activity in our assay. When tested on a panel of mRNA transcripts displaying different modes of translation initiation, these ligands showed a range of biological activities--with some inhibiting both cap-dependent and internal initiation and others preferentially blocking internal initiation. We used this information to identify a novel threading intercalator that inhibits Hepatitis C virus internal initiation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acridines / chemistry
  • Acriflavine / chemistry
  • Acriflavine / pharmacology
  • Antiviral Agents / chemistry
  • Antiviral Agents / isolation & purification
  • Antiviral Agents / pharmacology*
  • Hepacivirus / drug effects*
  • Humans
  • Intercalating Agents / pharmacology*
  • Ligands
  • Peptidyl Transferases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Protein Biosynthesis / drug effects*
  • Protein Synthesis Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Protein Synthesis Inhibitors / metabolism
  • Protein Synthesis Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Ribosomes / drug effects
  • Ribosomes / metabolism
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Viral Proteins / biosynthesis

Substances

  • Acridines
  • Antiviral Agents
  • Intercalating Agents
  • Ligands
  • Protein Synthesis Inhibitors
  • Viral Proteins
  • Acriflavine
  • Peptidyl Transferases