Induction of Both Thymidine and Deoxycytidine Kinase Activity by Herpes Viruses

Abstract

SUMMARY Genetical and biochemical evidence indicates that herpes simplex virus (types 1 and 2) specifies a unique kinase activity which is able to phosphorylate both thymidine and deoxycytidine. Pseudorabies virus specifies an enzyme which has only thymidine kinase activity and so does vaccinia virus, while equine abortion virus does not induce either activity. It is shown that the HSV specified deoxypyrimidine kinase is indispensable for virus growth in serum starved cells but not important for virus replication in actively growing culture cells.