DNA repair replication in human embryonic lung cells infected with herpes simplex virus

Abstract

Some aspects of repair replication of cellular DNA in herpes simplex virus (HSV)-infected human embryonic lung (HEL) cells were investigated. The buoyant density of the radioactive DNA, after incorporation of radioactive bromodeoxyuridine, was used as the criterion of whether semiconservative or repair replication of the host DNA had occurred. The results showed: HSV-infected cells were able to repair ultra violet-damaged cellular DNA. The HSV-infected cells did not induce repair replication of cellular DNA until 14 hr after infection. Twenty-four hours after infection, however, at least 10 to 15% of the cellular DNA replication was of the repair type. The onset of inhibition of cellular DNA replication, after infection with HSV, was not concomitant with the onset of repair replication of cellular DNA.