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Herpesvirus-induced availability of host DNA to exogenous endonuclease

Acta Virologica
|September 1, 1975
PubMed

Insights

Deoxyribonuclease I enters herpesvirus-infected cells and degrades host DNA without hindering viral replication. This indicates that changes in cell membrane permeability enable the enzyme

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Virology
  • Enzymology

Background:

  • Herpesvirus infections can alter host cell properties.
  • Exogenous enzymes may interact with infected cells.
  • Cell membrane integrity is crucial for cellular processes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effect of deoxyribonuclease I on herpesvirus-infected L cells.
  • To determine if deoxyribonuclease I can degrade host DNA within infected cells.
  • To explore the role of cell membrane permeability in enzyme entry.

Main Methods:

  • Treatment of herpesvirus-infected L cells with deoxyribonuclease I.
  • Assessment of viral multiplication post-treatment.
  • Analysis of host DNA integrity in treated and untreated cells.
  • Comparison with uninfected, disrupted, and undisturbed L cells.

Main Results:

  • Deoxyribonuclease I penetrated herpesvirus-infected L cells.
  • Host DNA was degraded by deoxyribonuclease I.
  • Viral multiplication was not affected by the enzyme.
  • Undisturbed L cells remained unaffected, while disrupted cells showed DNA degradation.

Conclusions:

  • Altered cell membrane permeability in infected cells facilitates deoxyribonuclease I entry.
  • Exogenous deoxyribonuclease I can access and degrade host DNA without impacting viral replication.
  • Cellular integrity plays a key role in susceptibility to exogenous nucleases.

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