title: Transcription of the herpes simplex virus genome in human cells.
abstract: We have examined the details of the transcription of the herpes simplex virus (HSV) genome in HeLa cells using deoxyribonucleic acid-ribonucleic acid (DNA-RNA) hybridization. The following findings are reported. (i) Virus-specific RNA (vRNA) synthesized following onset of HSV-DNA replication (L-vRNA) is complementary to as much as 90% of the HSV genome. (ii) There is no significant class of virus-specific RNA synthesized later than L-vRNA. (iii) The vRNA synthesized prior to HSV-DNA replication (E-vRNA) is composed of two classes; one class comprising 75% of the total E-vRNA is found in large amounts as early as 45 min after infection, whereas the other class making up the other 25% of E-vRNA is found in only small amounts at 1.5 hr after infection. This second class of E-vRNA is found in amounts comparable to the first by 3.5 hr after infection. (iv) Inhibition of HSV-DNA synthesis results in the continued synthesis of E-vRNA, but there is no synthesis of L-vRNA. (v) Finally, there is no class of vRNA found in the nucleus that is not found associated with cytoplasmic polyribosomes either early or late after infection.
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D004261:DNA Replication; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D006918:Hydroxyurea / Q000494:pharmacology; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014316:Tritium; D014529:Uridine / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D012367:RNA, Viral; D014316:Tritium; D014529:Uridine; D006918:Hydroxyurea