Reversible inhibition of herpes simplex virus replication by hydroxyurea.

Hydroxyurea, at a concentration of 5 x 10(-2) M, inhibits the replication of herpes simplex deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in the nuclei of infected cells. As a result, the synthesis of infectious virus progeny was prevented. The presence of parental viral DNA genomes in inhibited cells led to the synthesis of the viral structural peptides. The inhibitory effect of hydroxyurea was reversible; after washing the cells free from hydroxyurea, virus progeny appeared after a lag of 3 h. Upon resumption of viral DNA replication, the content of radioactive viral structural peptides gradually increased in parallel with the increase in mature virions. It is concluded that the information for the synthesis of viral structural peptides is transcribed from the parental DNA genomes.