Adenovirus cores can function as templates in in vitro DNA replication.

Adenovirus cores prepared by gentle disruption of virus by heating at 56 degrees C in the presence of deoxycholate were able to function as templates in an in vitro DNA replication system, allowing both initiation, indicated by the formation of terminal protein-dCMP complex, and elongation of > 300 nucleotides. Using both cores and DNA-protein complexes as templates, it was also demonstrated that novobiocin, an inhibitor of DNA gyrase, inhibited in vitro DNA replication by preventing formation of the initiation complex.