Analysis of the structure of human papilloma virus DNA.

Human papilloma virus DNA has been examined for heterogeneity by electron microscopy, reassociation kinetics, and restriction endonuclease digestion. No heterogeneity in contour length was detected. The reassociation rate of papilloma DNA isolated from pooled warts was consistent with that expected for a homogeneous, unique DNA of molecular weight 5 X 10(6). Restriction endonuclease digestions of five papilloma DNA preparations isolated from pooled warts yielded predominantly fragments of the expected sizes, but significant quantities of fragments atypical in size were also commonly produced.