Amantadine and dansylcadaverine inhibit vesicular stomatitis virus uptake and receptor-mediated endocytosis of alpha 2-macroglobulin.

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Abstract
The entry of many animal viruses into their host cells often proceeds via a specialized internalization pathway involving clathrin-coated regions of the plasma membrane. The effect of dansylcadaverine and amantadine on the entry of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) into mouse cells was examined. Both compounds inhibit VSV entry as determined by fluorescence and EM, 3H-labeled VSV uptake and VSV-dependent RNA synthesis assays. They also inhibit the uptake of .alpha.2-macroglobulin, a protein that binds to specific membrane receptors and follows the same route of internalization. Dansylcadaverine is 20-fold more potent than amantadine in blocking virus and .alpha.2-macroglobulin uptake. One cellular target for both of these amine-containing compounds appears to be the clustering of membrane-bound ligands or particles in clathrin-coated pits.