Viral and cellular deoxyribonucleases are associated with herpes simplex virus replicative intermediates.

The presence of viral and cellular deoxyribonucleases was investigated in partially purified HSV replicative intermediates (nucleoprotein complexes) and nucelocapsids prepared from BHK-21 cell cultures infected with herpes simplex virus type 1. The 85kd virus-coded alkaline nuclease was detected by Western blotting experiments in infected cell extracts 7 h after infection, and was identified in viral DNA containing nucleoprotein complexes at 18 h after infection. With activity gel experiments, three cellular deoxyribonucleases were detected in mock-infected cells. Two of them were present in infected cell extracts, and one of them (50kd) was detected in nucleocapsids at 9 h P.I., and in nucleoprotein complexes at 18 h P.I. These data indicate a possible role of viral nuclease in the biosynthesis of late replicative intermediates, and suggest an active involvement of the nuclear matrix in viral replication.