Characterization of human cytomegalovirus DNA: infectivity and molecular weight.

Human cytomegalovirus DNA was isolated from purified virions and further purified by sucrose density-gradient centrifugation. The viral DNA molecules were studied by electron microscopy and found to be linear and to have a length of 76.22 +/- 3.80 microM, corresponding to a molecular weight of 147.13 +/- 6.18 x 10(6). The DNA was infectious when tested in human embryonic lung cells using the DEAE-dextran and the calcium-phosphate techniques. The density in caesium chloride was 1.717 g/cm3.