Herpes simplex virus type 1 recombination: Role of DNA replication and viral a sequences

R. E. Dutch, R. C. Bruckner, E. S. Mocarski, I. R. Lehman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

58 Scopus citations

Abstract

During the course of infection, elements of the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) genome undergo inversion, a process that is believed to occur through the viral a sequences. To investigate the mechanism of this recombinational event, we have developed an assay that detects the deletion of DNA segments flanked by directly repeated a sequences in plasmids transiently maintained in Vero cells. With this assay, we have observed a high frequency of recombination (approximately 8%) in plasmids that undergo replication in HSV-1-infected cells. We also found a low level of recombination between a sequences in plasmids introduced into uninfected cells and in unreplicated plasmids in HSV-1-infected cells. In replicating plasmids, recombination between a sequences occurs at twice the frequency seen with directly repeated copies of a different sequence of similar size. Recombination between a sequences appears to occur at approximately the same time as replication, suggesting that the processes of replication and recombination are closely linked.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)277-285
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Virology
Volume66
Issue number1
StatePublished - Jan 1992

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Microbiology
  • Immunology
  • Insect Science
  • Virology

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