Latent herpes simplex virus type 1 DNA is not extensively methylated in vivo.
The methylation pattern of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) DNA, present in the central nervous system of latently infected mice, was examined by digestion of the DNA with methylation-sensitive restriction endonucleases and Southern blot hybridization. Using the enzymes SmaI, XmaI, SalI and SacII, the data indicate no extensive methylation of latent HSV-1 DNA in vivo. Thus, extensive methylation of the viral genome is not a necessary condition for, or a consequence of maintaining, the latent state in vivo.
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000382:microbiology*; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000378:metabolism*; D005814:Genes, Viral; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000382:microbiology*; D008745:Methylation; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
D004279:DNA, Viral; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes