Mutations in the 2C Region of Poliovirus Responsible for Altered Sensitivity to Benzimidazole Derivatives

MRL-1237, [1-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-(4-imino-1,4-dihydropyridin-1-yl) methylbenzimidazole hydrochloride], is a potent and selective inhibitor of the replication of enteroviruses. To reveal the target molecule of MRL-1237 in viral replication, we selected spontaneous MRL-1237-resistant poliovirus mutants. Of 15 MRL-1237-resistant mutants obtained, 14 were cross-resistant to guanidine hydrochloride (mrgr), while 1 was susceptible (mrgs). Sequence analysis of the 2C region revealed that the 14 mrgr mutants contained a single nucleotide substitution that altered an amino acid residue from Phe-164 to Tyr. The mrgs mutant, on the other hand, contained a substitution of Ile-120 to Val. Through the construction of a cDNA-derived mutant, we confirmed that the single mutation at Phe-164 was really responsible for the reduced susceptibility to MRL-1237. MRL-1237 inhibited poliovirus-specific RNA synthesis in HeLa cells infected with a wild strain but not with an F164Y mutant. We furthermore examined the effect of mutations of the 2C region on the drug sensitivity of cDNA-derived guanidine-resistant and -dependent mutants. Two guanidine-resistant mutants were cross-resistant to MRL-1237 but remained susceptible to another benzimidazole, enviroxime. Either MRL-1237 or guanidine stimulated the viral replication of two guanidine-dependent mutants, but enviroxime did not. These results indicate that MRL-1237, like guanidine, targets the 2C protein of poliovirus for its antiviral effect.