Cooperation between herpes simplex virus specific α protein and host cell RNA polymerase II in the transcription of viral deoxypyrimidine kinase

Abstract

A cistron specific enzyme-forming capacity method was used to study the control of herpes simplex virus (HSV) specific deoxypyrimidine kinase (dPyK) mRNA synthesis. In this assay, the α (or immediately early) protein was required to effect the transcription of dPyK mRNA. However, the dPyK mRNA synthesis was sensitive to α-amanitin in α-amanitin sensitive cells and resistant to α-amanitin in α-amanitin resistant cells. The effective dose range of α-amanitin used and the genetic lesion in α-amanitin resistant cells suggested that cellular DNA-dependent RNA polymerase II was also involved in the transcription of dPyK. This study suggests that two components, the HSV α protein and the cellular RNA polymerase II, were required for dPyK mRNA synthesis.