Human cytomegalovirus infection of WI-38 cells stimulates mitochondrial DNA synthesis

Abstract

HUMAN cytomegalovirus (HCMY) infection has been shown to lead to the stimulation of host cell DNA and RNA synthesis in both permissive and non-permissive cells1–3. This effect on DNA synthesis occurred at about 12–16 h after infection, and preceded synthesis of viral DNA by 36 h. The host cell DNA species which are stimulated have not been characterised. We show here that much of the stimulation of DNA synthesis was due to an increased rate of mitochondrial DNA synthesis and that ethidium bromide inhibited HMCV replication.