Natural and Phosphorothioate-Modified Oligodeoxyribonucleotides Exhibit a Non-Random Cellular Distribution

Addition of specific antisense oligomers to LTK- cells infected with HSV-1 has been shown to decrease viral production (1,8). We have investigated the cellular components that contain these oligomers and a phosphorothioate derivative by Normarski light microscopy and gel analysis of sucrose gradient cell fractions. Fractionation analysis suggests that these oligomers are distributed throughout the cell in a non-random manner and gel analysis suggest that intact oligomers are not equally distributed in the cytosol, nuclear or membrane component. Information about the cellular location of antisense oligomers should aid in the understanding of their antiviral effect and in the design of more effective oligonucleotide derivatives as potential antiviral agents.