Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Replication and Recombination

Herpesviruses are a very interesting model for studying DNA replication in eukaryotic systems since they encode most of the proteins required for this process. These include a protein that specifically binds to the virus origin of DNA synthesis, a single-stranded DNA binding protein, an heterotrimeric helicase-primase and an heterodimeric DNA polymerase holoenzyme. Although the virus genome contains three origins of DNA synthesis, replication proceeds through the generation of high molecular mass concatemeric replicative intermediates reminiscent of rolling circles. In addition, herpesviruses are highly recombinogenic and are useful models to study homologous recombination. Homologous recombination and replication of the virus genome appear to be tightly coupled and interrelated processes.