Aphidicolin resistance in herpes simplex virus type 1 appears to alter substrate specificity in the DNA polymerase

Abstract

We describe novel mutants of herpes simplex virus which are resistant to aphidicolin. Their mutant phenotypes suggest that they encode DNA polymerases with altered substrate recognition. This conclusion is based on their abnormal sensitivity to polymerase inhibitors and to the abnormal mutation rates exhibited by two of the mutants.