The sources of thymidine nucleotides for virus DNA synthesis in herpes simplex virus type 2-infected cells.

The thymidine nucleotide sources present during herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infection were examined. It was concluded that the source of dTTP in HSV-2-infected cells is not only derived from the ribonucleotide reductase-catalyzed de novo pathway, but also from host DNA. When the de novo pathway was inhibited by the addition of hydroxyurea, an inhibitor of ribonucleotide reductase, the dTTP levels were maintained by a compensatory increase in dTTP derived from host DNA. The utilization of host DNA-derived dTTP for viral DNA synthesis was demonstrated. In spite of an increased contribution of dTTP from host DNA in the presence of hydroxyurea, the level of utilization of host DNA-derived dTTP appeared to remain constant. More than one dTTP pool in virus-infected cells is implicated.