Raw sequence reads for "Human cytomegalovirus regulates host DNA repair machinery for viral genome integrity"
The DNA damage response (DDR) encompasses a multitude of proteins that protect genome integrity by addressing aberrant DNA lesions arising during DNA synthesis or due to environmental agents. DNA viruses, like the herpesvirus cytomegalovirus (CMV) activate DDR responses during their replicative program. However, it is not understood if host DDR is specifically commandeered by the virus or simply a response to infection. Here, we define a viral protein that modulates the activity of host DDR proteins to impact virus replication with consequences for the integrity of the viral genome. Disruption of these pathways or viral control of them results in an increase novel junctions across the viral genome, predominantly comprised of inversions, which are a signature of aberrant homology-directed repair pathways. This work provides mechanistic insight into how CMV recruits host DDR for infection and puts forth CMV as a model system for further defining these pathways in human cells.