Biomaterial Database

Interferon induction by polynucleotides: structure-function relationship. 1977

E De Clercq

In view of recent developments, the structural determinants of the interferon inducing activity of polynucleotides have been (re)evaluated. To induce interferon, the polynucleotide should be sufficiently large and double-stranded, although not necessarily double-stranded over its whole length. It should be sufficiently stable to both thermal denaturation and hydrolysis by nucleases. It should also contain a particular steric conformation. This conformation is most regularly ensured by the presence of 2'-hydroxyl in the ribose moieties and intact purine-pyrimidine base pairs in the interior of the double helix. Other biologic activities of polynucleotides, such as anti-complement activity and inhibition of reverse transcriptase (RNA-directed DNA polymerase) activity, depend on structural requirements which are rather antagonistic to those governing the interferon response.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007369	Interferon Inducers	Agents that promote the production and release of interferons. They include mitogens, lipopolysaccharides, and the synthetic polymers Poly A-U and Poly I-C. Viruses, bacteria, and protozoa have been also known to induce interferons.	Inducers, Interferon
D007372	Interferons	Proteins secreted by vertebrate cells in response to a wide variety of inducers. They confer resistance against many different viruses, inhibit proliferation of normal and malignant cells, impede multiplication of intracellular parasites, enhance macrophage and granulocyte phagocytosis, augment natural killer cell activity, and show several other immunomodulatory functions.	Interferon
D008970	Molecular Weight	The sum of the weight of all the atoms in a molecule.	Molecular Weights,Weight, Molecular,Weights, Molecular
D009690	Nucleic Acid Conformation	The spatial arrangement of the atoms of a nucleic acid or polynucleotide that results in its characteristic 3-dimensional shape.	DNA Conformation,RNA Conformation,Conformation, DNA,Conformation, Nucleic Acid,Conformation, RNA,Conformations, DNA,Conformations, Nucleic Acid,Conformations, RNA,DNA Conformations,Nucleic Acid Conformations,RNA Conformations
D011131	Polyribonucleotides	A group of 13 or more ribonucleotides in which the phosphate residues of each ribonucleotide act as bridges in forming diester linkages between the ribose moieties.
D006358	Hot Temperature	Presence of warmth or heat or a temperature notably higher than an accustomed norm.	Heat,Hot Temperatures,Temperature, Hot,Temperatures, Hot
D006900	Hydroxylation	Placing of a hydroxyl group on a compound in a position where one did not exist before. (Stedman, 26th ed)	Hydroxylations
D012260	Ribonucleases	Enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of ester bonds within RNA. EC 3.1.-.	Nucleases, RNA,RNase,Acid Ribonuclease,Alkaline Ribonuclease,Ribonuclease,RNA Nucleases,Ribonuclease, Acid,Ribonuclease, Alkaline
D013329	Structure-Activity Relationship	The relationship between the chemical structure of a compound and its biological or pharmacological activity. Compounds are often classed together because they have structural characteristics in common including shape, size, stereochemical arrangement, and distribution of functional groups.	Relationship, Structure-Activity,Relationships, Structure-Activity,Structure Activity Relationship,Structure-Activity Relationships