MOLECULAR MECHANISM OF ACTION OF ANTIVIRA L ADAMANTANE AGENTS

Regions of possible interaction between remantadine and transmebrane M 2 protein are revealed by analysis of amino acid substitutions in rema ntadine- and deutiforin-resistant influenza viruses. The major region includes 5-6 amino acid residues at position 25-31, partially involvin g the premembrane region and the first position of a hydrophobic membr ane-associated domain. The proposed model action of remantadine and it s derivatives suggests that remantadine is included into the cell memb rane lipid bimolecular layer by its adamantane share and its positivel y charged NH2-group is exposed to the cell surface. This allows remant adine and its analogs to be regarded as molecular ''hindrances'' for v iral particle decapsidation and budding.