Characterization of the effect of rimantadine on intracellular distribution and transport into the nuclei of infected cells of the parent influenza virus genome.

Rimantadine in the concentration of 50 micrograms/ml did not affect the distribution in subcellular fractions of MDCK cells of the parent influenza virus A/Khabarovsk/74/77(H1N1) labelled with 14C-amino acids, 3H-nucleosides or 32P-orthophosphoric acid. In the presence of rimantadine viral structures of heterogenous composition were detected in the nuclei of infected cells. Their buoyant densities of 1.34-1.36, 1.41-1.42 and 1.28-1.32 g/cm3 in the CsCl gradient were characteristic for RNP and "nucleoids" (complex of RNP and M protein), respectively. Similar structures were also detected in the nuclei of cells infected in the absence of rimantadine. No primary transcription of the viral genome was registered in the presence of rimantadine, although the genetic material in the nuclei was present in a form suitable for transcription.