A helix-destabilising protein from herpes simplex virus type I infected cells which specifically stimulates the virus induced DNA polymerase activity in vitro

We have isolated a protein fraction from HSV-1 infected cells which binds specifically to single-stranded DNA, facilitates a lowering of the melting temperature of poly[d(A-T)] and specifically stimulates the activity of the homologous virus-induced DNA-dependent DNA polymerase in vitro. These are major characteristics of a helix-destabilising protein, exemplified by the prokaryotic gene 32 protein.