THE UL112 113 GENE-PRODUCTS OF HUMAN CYTOMEGALOVIRUS WHICH COLOCALIZEWITH VIRAL-DNA IN INFECTED CELL-NUCLEI ARE RELATED TO EFFICIENT VIRAL-DNA REPLICATION/

The UL112/113 gene products of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) were shown by transient complementation oriLyt-dependent DNA replication assay t o be early viral proteins required for efficient viral DNA synthesis. By immunofluorescence analysis followed by fluorescence in situ hybrid ization, we showed that UL112/113 gene products of HCMV are colocalize d with viral DNA prior to and during viral DNA replication in infected cell nuclei. We have used an anti-sense RNA approach for functional a nalysis of the UL112/113 gene in HCMV. The astrocytoma cell line U373- MG was used for permanent expression of the anti-sense UL112/113 gene. Expression of the anti-sense RNA in this cell line significantly bloc ked expression of UL112/113 gene products and viral DNA replication, i ndicating that the UL112/113 gene products are related to efficient vi ral DNA replication. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.