Inhibition of viral reverse transcriptase by 2',5'-oligoadenylates.

Viral reverse transcriptase activity was inhibited in a concentration dependent manner by 2',5'-oligoadenylate. Kinetically this inhibition was of a mixed type where 2',5'-oligoadenylate was not strictly competitive with dTTP. The potency of inhibition was more marked in the absence than in the presence of sulfhydryl agents. 2',5'-oligoadenylate had no effect on DNA-dependent E. coli DNA polymerase and was much less active against mammalian DNA polymerases. This is the first report of reverse transcriptase inhibition by an inducible constitutive natural ligand.