Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Specific Inhibition of Influenza Replication by α-Amanitin

Abstract

α-AMANITIN, a bicyclic polypeptide from the toadstool Amanita phalloides1, is known specifically to inhibit the DNA-dependent RNA polymerase of mammalian cells by interaction with the enzyme rather than with the DNA template2,3. No influence of the toxin on the replication of a number of DNA or RNA-containing viruses has been found so far (ref. 4 and personal communication from L. Philipson). Actinomycin, which reacts with the DNA template and so impairs the DNA-dependent RNA polymerase reaction, depresses the multiplication of influenza viruses but does not interfere with the replication of most of the other RNA-containing viruses5–7. Because the mode of action of this antibiotic on the synthesis of influenza viruses is still obscure, we extended our studies to the action of α-amanitin on the multiplication of this virus group.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Wieland, Th., Science, 159, 946 (1968).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Seifart, K. H., and Sekeris, C. E., Z. Naturforsch., 24 b, 1538 (1969).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Jacob, S. T., Sajdel, E. M., and Munro, H. N., Nature, 225, 60 (1969).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. Fiume, L., LaPlaca, M., and Portolani, M., Sperimentale, 116, 15 (1966).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Barry, R. D., Ives, D. R., and Cruickshank, J. G., Nature, 194, 1139 (1962).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Rott, R., and Scholtissek, C., Z. Naturforsch., 19 b, 316 (1964).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. White, D. O., Day, H. M., Batchelder, E. J., Cheyne, I. M., and Wansbrough, A. J., Virology, 25, 289 (1965).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Scholtissek, C., and Rott, R., Virology, 40, 989 (1970).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Scholtissek, C., and Rott, R., J. Gen. Virol., 5, 283 (1969).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Scholtissek, C., Becht, H., and McPherson, I., J. Gen. Virol., 8, 11 (1970).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Scholtissek, C., Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 179, 389 (1969).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

ROTT, R., SCHOLTISSEK, C. Specific Inhibition of Influenza Replication by α-Amanitin. Nature 228, 56 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1038/228056a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/228056a0

This article is cited by

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing