HERPES-SIMPLEX VIRUS TYPE-1 REPLICATION AND RECOMBINATION

Herpesviruses are a very interesting model for studying DNA replicatio n in eukaryotic systems since they encode most of the proteins require d for this process. These include a protein that specifically binds to the virus origin of DNA synthesis, a single stranded DNA binding prot ein, an heterotrimeric helicase-primase and an heterodimeric DNA polym erase holoenzyme. Although the virus genome contains three origins of DNA synthesis, replication proceeds through the generation of high mol ecular mass concatemeric replicative intermediates reminiscent of roll ing circles. in addition, herpesviruses are highly recombinogenic and are useful models to study homologous recombination. Homologous recomb ination and replication of the virus genome appear to be tightly coupl ed and interrelated processes.