Evidence that the Human Cytomegalovirus 46-kDa UL72 protein is not an active dUTPase but a late protein dispensable for replication in fibroblasts

摘要: The Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV) UL72 gene is considered to be the equivalent of dUTPase Alpha- and Gamma-herpesviruses. To characterize its function, expression profiles at both RNA protein level were determined. expressed with a late kinetics corresponding 46-kDa accumulates during infection in cytoplasm infected cells. pUL72 was E. coli purified recombinant did not display detectable activity. viral yields reconstituted HCMV RVΔUL72 viruses carrying deletion within ORF demonstrated moderate growth defect following low MOI infections, whereas their DNA synthesis significantly different from those parental RVAD169. These results demonstrate that product essential for replication human fibroblasts.