Herpes simplex virus products in productive and abortive infection. I. Stabilization with formaldehyde and preliminary analyses by isopycnic centrifugation in CsCl.

Lysates of HEp-2 cells productively infected with herpes simplex virus yielded two bands on isopycnic centrifugation in CsCl gradients, ranging from 1.2 to 1.6 g/cm(3). One band, designated alpha, had a mean buoyant density of 1.27 g/cm(3) and contained herpes virions. Band beta had a mean density of 1.305 g/cm(3) and contained primarily complement-fixing viral antigens and little or no viral deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). The products banding in the alpha and beta bands were unstable; fivefold or higher amounts were recovered by treating the cell extract with formaldehyde prior to centrifugation. Formaldehyde treatment increased the buoyant density of viral products in both the alpha and beta bands by about 0.015 g/cm(3). In addition, it stabilized hitherto inapparent products, forming a broad band gamma with a density range of 1.37 to 1.45 g/cm(3). The material in the gamma band was heterogeneous; it contained viral DNA, cellular DNA, and viral antigen. Formalinized lysates of DK cells abortively infected with herpes simplex virus yielded a beta band undifferentiated from that formed by extracts of productively infected cells. The gamma band was less dense and narrower. The alpha band was entirely missing.