Abstract
An earlier suggestion that guanidine may inhibit picornavirus replication by interfering with a monovalent cation-mediated event was tested by determining the effect of varying monovalent cation concentration in isotonic medium on the sensitivity of poliovirus replication in HeLa cells to 0.2 mM-guanidine. Lowering [Na+] in the medium to 50 mM had no effect on virus replication. It was found that the degree of inhibition of virus replication by 0.2 mM-guanidine was inversely related to [Na+] in the medium: 99.8%, 99.1%, 38% and 0% inhibition in the presence of 50, 75, 100 and 145 mM-Na+ respectively. Likewise, guanidine uptake by HeLa cells was also inversely related to [Na+] in the medium. On the other hand, lowering medium [Na+] to 50 or 75 mM resulted in reduced intracellular [Na+] and [K+]. The increased sensitivity of virus replication to guanidine in the presence of low Na+ medium could be abolished with excess K+ in such medium. Excess K+ in low Na+ medium restored intracellular [Na+] and reduced guanidine uptake. Thus, the increased sensitivity of poliovirus replication to guanidine in the presence of low Na+ medium correlated with reduced intracellular [Na+] and [K+] and elevated guanidine uptake.