title: Repetitive sequences in complete and defective genomes of Herpesvirus saimiri.
abstract: Two types of Herpesvirus saimiri genomes can be isolated from purified virions: (i) the M genome is a double-stranded, liniear DNA molecule with a mean contour length corresponding to 89 times 10-6 daltons. The M genome contains about 70% of unique sequences (light DNA, 36% guanine plus cytosine) and 30% reiterated sequences (heavy DNA, 71% guanine plus cytosine). (ii) the H genome is composed of heavy DNA only and is more heterogeneous in size. The sequences in the H genome are up to 40-fold reiterated, indicating defectiveness of this type of genome. The repetitions in the H genome and the M genome cross-hybridize almost completely and have identical kinetic complexity (2.8 times 10-6 daltons). DNA infectivity studies by using the calcium phosphate and the DEAE-dextran method gave further evidence that H genomes are defective: no infectious virus was recovered from permissive cells treated with heavy DNA, whereas M genome-infected cells developed cytopathic changes after 11 to 56 days. Defective H genomes were present in the progeny virus two passages after transfection.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002130:Calcium Phosphates; D002460:Cell Line; D002499:Centrifugation, Density Gradient; D003596:Cytosine / Q000032:analysis; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D003673:Defective Viruses / Q000032:analysis*; D003911:Dextrans; D005796:Genes; D006147:Guanine / Q000032:analysis; D000882:Haplorhini; D006564:Herpesviridae / Q000032:analysis*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D007668:Kidney; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D009691:Nucleic Acid Denaturation; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D009858:Oncogenic Viruses / Q000032:analysis*; D013936:Thymidine; D014316:Tritium; D010948:Viral Plaque Assay
chemical_list: D002130:Calcium Phosphates; D004279:DNA, Viral; D003911:Dextrans; D014316:Tritium; D006147:Guanine; D003596:Cytosine; D013936:Thymidine