A broad antiviral neutral glycolipid, fattiviracin FV-8, is a membrane fluidity modulator.

Abstract

To screen for an effective antiviral compound which acts as a membrane fluidity modulator, dichotomous effects on human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection due to different treatments of several glycolipids and lipids were examined. Continuous treatment of infected cells with 40 microg ml(-1) fattiviracin FV-8, a neutral glycolipid isolated from Streptomycetes, inhibited HIV-1 infection by 96%, whereas pretreatment with 400 microg ml(-1) enhanced infectivity 4.7-fold. The glycolipid showed similar effects as glycyrrhizin; it inhibited infection by broad enveloped viruses, blocked cell-cell fusion, reduced the infectivity of treated virions and enhanced susceptibility to viral infection and cell-cell fusion of cells pretreated with high doses of the compound. Suppression and enhancement was correlated with decreased and increased fluidity of plasma membrane of the fattiviracin FV-8-treated cells. Restricted movement of membrane molecules might impede the formation of a wide fusion pore, and therefore be critical to the entry of viruses. Thus, this can be applied as a new strategy to inhibit viral infections.

• Authors: Shinji Harada, Kazumi Yokomizo, Kazuaki Monde, Yosuke Maeda, Keisuke Yusa
• Journal: Cellular microbiology (Cell Microbiol) Vol. 9 Issue 1 Pg. 196-203 (Jan 2007) ISSN: 1462-5814 [Print] India
• PMID: 17222192 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Glycolipids
• HIV Fusion Inhibitors
• fattiviracin FV-8
• Glycyrrhizic Acid

Topics

• Animals
• COS Cells
• Cell Fusion
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Chlorocebus aethiops
• Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
• Glycolipids (metabolism, pharmacology)
• Glycyrrhizic Acid (pharmacology)
• HIV Fusion Inhibitors (pharmacology)
• HIV-1 (drug effects, metabolism)
• Humans
• Membrane Fluidity (drug effects)