Further studies on recognition of structure of substrates and their analogues by cellular and viral DNA polymerases

Summary

The newly synthesized araUTP and its derivatives such as ara5-ethyl UTP (1-β-D-arabinofuranosyl-5-ethyluracil triphosphate) and ara5-propyl UTP (l-β-D-arabinofuranosyl-5-propyluracil triphosphate) were tested for inhibition of DNA polymerase γ and of reverse transcriptase. All these three compounds as well as araTTP inhibited the activity of DNA polymerase γ. On the contrary, the activity of reverse transcriptase was inhibited by araUTP, but not by ara5-ethyl UTP and ara5-propyl UTP. The results indicate that there is a distinct difference in function between the active site of DNA polymerase γ and that of reverse transcriptase.