High-throughput screening assay for helicase enzymes

We have developed a novel 96-well microtiter plate high-throughput screenin g filtration assay for the detection of helicase activity. In this paper we present data for detection of helicase activity of the UL5/8/52 helicase-p rimase complex from herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV1). The assay involves the d etection of radioac tively labeled oligonucleotide annealed to a single-str anded circular DNA following capture of the annealed complex on silica bead s. We have screened over 200,000 samples containing small organic molecules and natural products and identified T157602, a two-amino thiazole, as a sp ecific inhibitor of HSV replication. (C) 1998 Academic Press.