title: Signals for site-specific cleavage of HSV DNA: maturation involves two separate cleavage events at sites distal to the recognition sequences.
abstract: Mature Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) genomes are cleaved from concatemeric precursors by a site-specific mechanism. These cleavage events are probably coupled to the encapsidation process. Sequences within the terminal repeat of HSV DNA are necessary for the cleavage and packaging reactions, and are also thought to be responsible for high frequency genome isomerization events. Here we present evidence to show that two viral DNA cleavage and packaging signals reside within a 250 bp subfragment of the terminal repeat, that the termini of mature viral DNA are generated by a process involving two separate DNA cleavages at sites distal to the cleavage signals, and that the sequences between these two cleavage sites are duplicated by the DNA maturation system.
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Varmuza
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Smiley
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D004274:DNA, Recombinant; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015252:Deoxyribonucleases, Type II Site-Specific; D005814:Genes, Viral; D008957:Models, Genetic; D009154:Mutation; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D012091:Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D013937:Thymidine Kinase / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D004274:DNA, Recombinant; D004279:DNA, Viral; D013937:Thymidine Kinase; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes; C025651:CCCGGG-specific type II deoxyribonucleases; D015252:Deoxyribonucleases, Type II Site-Specific