Inactivation and inhibition of Rous sarcoma virus by copper-binding ligands: thiosemicarbazones, 8-hydroxyquinolines, and isonicotinic acid hydrazide.

We have shown that three types of copper-binding ligands, thiosemicarbazones, 8-hydroxyquinolines, and isonicotinic acid hydrazide and their copper complexes, inactivate the transforming ability of RSV and inhibit its RNA-dependent DNA polymerases. Three other compounds, 2-pyridine thiosemicarbazone, 1-formyl isoquinoline thiosemicarbazone, and diphenyl thiocarbazone inhibit transformation by RSV intracellularly. Most but not all of these compounds bind to nucleic acids in the presence of copper, which may be important in their mode of action.