Requirement of Adenovirus Type 12 Gene 401 Function for Initiation of Virus DNA Synthesis

Abstract

The highly oncogenic human adenovirus type 12 temperature sensitive mutant, H12ts401, is unable to maintain the growth characteristics of transformed [human embryo kidney] cells at the non-permissive temperature. In lytic infection, the 401 gene function is required to produce virus DNA. In the present study, virus DNA synthesized in ts401-infected human cells after temperature shift-up was characterized. No apparent suppression of DNA chain elongation or ligation occurred at the non-permissive temperature, but, as shown by density labeling, new initiation of virus DNA replication was inhibited under this condition. The 401 gene function is apparently involved in the initiation of virus DNA synthesis in the lytic cycle.