Compartmentalization of spermine and spermidine in the herpes simplex virion

Enveloped particles of herpes simplex virus produced in human cells in culture contained spermidine and spermine, in a molar ratio of 1.6 +/- 0.2. The spermine present within the nucleocapsid is sufficient to neutralize at least 40% of the viral DNA. Disruption of the envelope with nonionic detergent and urea resulted in the selective loss of spermidine. Exogenous ornithine can function as a precursor to host and viral polyamines only before infection.