Evidence that herpes simplex virus DNA is transcribed by cellular RNA polymerase B

Abstract

In herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1)-infected [human laryngeal carcinoma] HEp-2 cells, amanitine added before or at various times after infection always reduced viral multiplication. The 3 waves of transcription of HSV-1 DNA, which led to the synthesis of .alpha., .beta.- and .gamma.-polypeptides, were all sensitive to amanitine in HEp-2 cells, and the amanitine-sensitive RNA polymerase activities of isolated nuclei were equally sensitive to the inhibitor before and during the infection. HSV-1 DNA transcription was totally unaffected by amanitine in AR1/9-5B cells, a mutant subline of CHO [Chinese hamster ovary] cells that possesses an amanitine-resistant RNA polymerase B. Apparently, HSV-1 DNA utilizes for its transcription a polymerase indistinguishable from host cell RNA polymerase B with respect to its sensitivity to amanitine.