Separation of the adenovirus terminal protein precursor from its associated DNA polymerase: role of both proteins in the initiation of adenovirus DNA replication.

A complex containing the 80,000-dalton precursor to the adenovirus (Ad)-encoded terminal protein (pTP) and a 140,000-dalton protein is required for Ad DNA replication in vitro. This complex has been separated into subunits by glycerol gradient centrifugation in the presence of urea. The isolated 140,000-dalton subunit contains a DNA polymerase activity which can be differentiated from all host DNA polymerases. No enzyme activity was detected with the isolated pTP. The requirements for reactions involved in the initiation of Ad DNA replication were determined by using the isolated subunits. The covalent addition of dCMP, the first nucleotide in the DNA chain, to the pTP, which serves as the primer for replication, required the DNA polymerase subunit as well as the pTP. Synthesis of viral DNA in vitro also required both subunits. The properties of the DNA polymerase suggest that it may be a viral gene product.