Inhibition of DNA and RNA polymerase reactions by chloroquine.

Abstract
The present studies have examined the effects of chloroquine and certain of its analogues on the DNA-dependent enzymic synthesis of nucleic acids. The results indicate that chloroquine can inhibit both the DNA and the RNA polymerase reactions, apparently as a direct consequence of its interaction with the DNA primer. The observations provide a possible molecular basis for chloroquine action, and suggest that this compound and other substituted quinolines might be useful in studying the functions of DNA in biological processes. Preliminary reports of certain of these observations have been presented elsewhere.