title: Characterization of the DNA polymerase gene of varicella-zoster viruses resistant to acyclovir.
abstract: The nucleotide changes of the DNA polymerase gene and the susceptibility of acyclovir (ACV)-resistant varicella-zoster virus (VZV) mutants to anti-herpetic drugs were determined and compared to those of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) mutants. The seven ACV-resistant VZV mutants were classified into three groups, N(779)S, G(805)C and V(855)M, according to the sequences of their DNA polymerase genes. The amino acid substitutions N(779)S and G(805)C were identical in position to the N(815)S and G(814)C mutations in the HSV-1 DNA polymerase mutants, respectively, and the V(855)M amino acid substitution was similar to the HSV-1 V(892)M mutation. All three groups of VZV mutants were susceptible to ACV, phosphonoacetic acid, vidarabine and aphidicolin, at levels similar to those seen with the respective HSV-1 mutants, except for subtle differences that were due possibly to the non-conserved regions in their sequences. Although both the HSV-1 and the VZV DNA polymerase genes show 53% sequence similarity, both viruses essentially show a similar biochemical behaviour.
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama 930-0194, Japan1.
authors.forename: Tomoko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kamiyama
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama 930-0194, Japan1.
authors.forename: Masahiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kurokawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama 930-0194, Japan1.
authors.forename: Kimiyasu
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shiraki
mesh_terms: D000212:Acyclovir / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D019943:Amino Acid Substitution; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D024882:Drug Resistance, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests / Q000379:methods; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase; D000212:Acyclovir