Human cytomegalovirus is a herpesvirus that induces numerous cellular
processes upon infection. Among these are activation of cyclin-depende
nt kinase 2, which regulates cell cycle progression in G1 and S phase.
We report here that inhibition of cellular Cdk2 activity blocks HCMV
replication. Inhibition of Cdk2 activity by roscovitine inhibits HCMV
DNA synthesis, production of infectious progeny, and late antigen expr
ession in infected cells in a dose-dependent manner. HCMV replication
is also inhibited by the expression of a Cdk2 dominant negative mutant
, whereas expression of wild-type Cdk2 has no effect on viral replicat
ion. These data indicate that activation of cellular Cdk2 is necessary
for HCMV replication. (C) 1997 Academic Press.