Comparative Study of Herpes Group Virus-Induced DNA Polymerases

Abstract

A comparative biochemical study of virus-induced DNA polymerases was made among the herpes group viruses: herpes simplex virus (HSV) types 1 and 2; human cytomegalovirus (HCMV); and varicella-zoster virus (VZV). Although these virus-induced enzymes shared some biochemical properties, they differed in several important aspects. All these virus-induced DNA polymerases could efficiently use poly(dC) .cntdot. oligo(dG)12-18 and poly(dA) .cntdot. oligo(dT)12-18 as template-primers. In phosphocellulose chromatography, HSV-1- and HSV-2-induced enzymes were eluted at the low concentration of 0.18-0.20 M NaCl and the counterparts of HCMV and VZV were eluted at 0.30-0.32 M. The former 2 enzymes were more sensitive to lower concentrations of phosphonoacetate and ethyl phosphonoacetate than the latter 2 enzymes. The activity of HSV-1- and HSV-2-specified DNA polymerases was 5 times greater in the presence of 60 mM (NH4)2SO4 if poly(dA) .cntdot. oligo(dT)12-18 was used as template-primer while HCMV- and VZV-induced enzyme activities were only about twice as great under the same conditions. DNase activity was conspicuous in HSV-1- and HSV-2-infected WI-38 [human embryonic lung] cells but was not detectable in HCMV- and VZV-infected cells. After storage for 1 yr at 4.degree., the HSV-1 induced DNA polymerase was the most thermostable of the 4 viral enzymes.