Binding of an Antiviral Agent (Kethoxal) by Various Metabolites

Summary Kethoxal (β-ethoxy-α-ketobutyraldehyde hydrate) reacted chemically with a variety of normal metabolites. Some of these reactions (e.g., those with cysteine and arginine) resulted in rapid loss of antiviral activity; others (e.g., with glycine and intact gelatin) in a more gradual loss of activity, while still others, particularly with serine and threonine, gave products possessing apparently undiminished activity. It was concluded that lack of significant antiviral activity by Kethoxal in animals could be attributed principally to its rapid binding and inactivation by proteins, amino acids and other metabolites.