The effects of herpes simplex virus type 1 on cellular DNA-dependent RNA polymerase activities.

An investigation of the activity of nuclear RNA polymerase following infection of LS cells with HSV-1 shows a decline in both major activities. This effect is not entirely due to inhibition of cellular protein synthesis, and the effect of alpha-amanitin-sensitive RNA polymerase is mediated by a protein(s) synthesized in the infected cell. Changes in the properties of this RNA polymerase activity include a reduction in the relative UTP/GTP incorporation ratio and an increased sensitivity to inhibition by actinomycin D, indicating that RNA polymerase II is involved in virus transcription.