Temperature-sensitive herpes simplex virus type 1 mutants defective in the shutoff of cellular DNA synthesis and host polypeptide synthesis.

Two temperature-sensitive herpes simplex virus type 1 mutants, ts 1-8 and ts 199, belonging to different complementation groups, were isolated. Both mutants were defective in the shutoff of host DNA synthesis at 39.5 degrees C (nonpermissive temperature). ts 1-8 exhibited intermediate levels of viral DNA synthesis at 39.5 degrees C, while ts 199 was completely deficient in viral DNA synthesis at 39.5 degrees C. Comparative polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the ts 1-8, ts 199 and wild-type viral-coded polypeptides and cellular proteins produced in vivo at 34 degrees C and 39.5 degrees C during various periods post infection was performed. The results indicated that ts 1-8 and ts 199 were temperature-sensitive for the secondary suppression of host polypeptide synthesis. Production of the beta (early) and gamma (late) viral polypeptides was slightly delayed in the mutant-infected cells at early times post infection at both 34 degrees C and 39.5 degrees C. This delayed protein production was not evident at later times post-infection. The ts 1-8 and ts 199 mutants were distinct from the HSV-1 viron-associated host shutoff (vhs) mutants of Read and Frenkel (J. Virol. 46 (1983) 498).