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Inhibition of EnterovirusRibonucleic Acid Synthesis by 2-(α-Hydroxybenzyl)-benzimidazole

Nature volume 197, pages 1327–1328 (1963)Cite this article

Abstract

2-(α-HYDROXYBENZYL)-BENZIMIDAZOLE (HBB) iS a specific chemical inhibitor of enterovirus reproduction1,2. Examination of its mechanism of action has shown that it prevents the production of the infective viral RNA of susceptible viruses3. These studies left open the question whether HBB in fact inhibited the synthesis of viral ribopolynucleotide strands, or merely prevented viral RNA from becoming infective. A simple experimental approach to this question was offered by the finding that actinomycin D is a specific inhibitor of cellular RNA synthesis, but does not affect viral RNA synthesis4.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Rockefeller Institute, New York, 21

    HANS J. EGGERS & IGOR TAMM

Authors
  1. HANS J. EGGERS
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  2. IGOR TAMM
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EGGERS, H., TAMM, I. Inhibition of EnterovirusRibonucleic Acid Synthesis by 2-(α-Hydroxybenzyl)-benzimidazole. Nature 197, 1327–1328 (1963). https://doi.org/10.1038/1971327a0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/1971327a0

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