Synthesis of herpes simplex virus DNA in preparations of chromatin from infected cell nuclei.

Chromatin prepared from cells infected with Herpes simplex virus type 1 or type 2 can synthesize both virus and cell DNA in vitro. The rate of synthesis is comparable to that of isolated whole nuclei. Incorporation is limited, and both cell and virus DNA synthesis are sensitive to the presence of virus-specific antiserum and phosphonoacetate. In chromatin from cells infected with a phosphonoacetate resistant virus mutant, both types of DNA synthesis are resistant to the presence of the inhibitor.