Transcription of herpes simplex type 1 DNA in nuclei isolated from infected HEp-2 and KB cells

Abstract

Viral RNA synthesis in nuclei isolated from cells infected with Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) has been examined for sensitivity to the fungal toxin α-amanitin. In both HEp-2 and KB cell lines, the production of HSV-1 specific RNA is inhibited 90% or greater by the administration of the toxin at 0.32 μg/ml. These results suggest that an α-amanitin sensitive, DNA-dependent RNA polymerase, possibly the host cell nucleoplasmic polymerase, is responsible for HSV-1 RNA synthesis in the infected cell.