title: Herpes simplex virus-induced dUTPase: target site for antiviral chemotherapy.
abstract: In studies using mutants of HSV-1 (strain 17), which are defective in inducing the HSV-specific dUTPase, Fisher and Preston concluded that since this enzyme was not essential for HSV replication, it would not be useful as a target site for the development of antiviral agents. In this study, we demonstrate that while these mutants do not induce a HSV-specific dUTPase, they do not shut off cellular dUTPase activity in infected cells and that the cellular dUTPase can function in place of the HSV-induced enzyme during the replication process. Data are also presented that demonstrate that the HSV-induced dUTPase can be used as a target site for the development of specific antiviral compounds.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Ohio State University, Columbus 43210.
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D003853:Deoxyribonucleosides / Q000494:pharmacology; D004790:Enzyme Induction; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000188:drug therapy; D009154:Mutation; D011755:Pyrophosphatases / Q000235:genetics*; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D013937:Thymidine Kinase / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D003853:Deoxyribonucleosides; D013937:Thymidine Kinase; D011755:Pyrophosphatases; C020020:dUTP pyrophosphatase