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J. Virol., 05 1996, 3018-3025, Vol 70, No. 5
MN Prichard, GM Duke and ES Mocarski
Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) encodes a gene, UL114, whose product is
homologous to the uracil DNA glycosylase and is highly conserved in all
herpesviruses. This DNA repair enzyme excises uracil residues in DNA that
result from the misincorporation of dUTP or spontaneous deamination of
cytosine. We constructed a recombinant virus, RC2620, that contains a large
deletion in the UL114 open reading frame and carries a 1.2-kb insert
containing the Escherichia coli gpt gene. RC2620 retains the capacity to
replicate in primary human fibroblasts and reaches titers that are similar
to those produced by the parent virus but exhibits a significantly longer
replication cycle. Although the rate of expression of alpha and beta gene
products appears to be unaffected by the mutation, DNA synthesis fails to
proceed normally. Once initiated, DNA synthesis in mutant virus-infected
cells proceeds at the same rate as with wild-type virus, but initiation is
delayed by 48 h. The mutant virus also exhibits two predicted phenotypes:
(i) hypersensitivity to the nucleoside analog 5-bromodeoxyuridine and (ii)
retention of more uracil residues in genomic DNA than the parental virus.
Together, these data suggest UL114 is required for the proper excision of
uracil residues from viral DNA but in addition plays some role in
establishing the correct temporal progression of DNA synthesis and viral
replication. Although such involvement has not been previously observed in
herpesviruses, a requirement for uracil DNA glycosylase in DNA replication
has been observed in poxviruses.
Copyright © 1996, American Society for Microbiology
Human cytomegalovirus uracil DNA glycosylase is required for the normal temporal regulation of both DNA synthesis and viral replication
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, California 94305-5402, USA.
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