Characterization of DNA polymerase activity in Trichoplusia ni cells infected with Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus

Insect Pathology Resource Center, Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research at Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, U.S.A. Nuclei isolated from Trichoplusia ni cells (TN-368) infected with Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcMNPV) were used to study the replication of viral DNA. Based on DNA:DNA hybridization data, virus-specific DNA polymerase activity was insensitive to aphidicolin and novobiocin and was inhibited by ddTTP and N -ethylmaleimide. The data indicate that the AcMNPV-specific DNA polymerase is a -like DNA polymerase which was first detected at 5 h post-inoculation. Keywords: AcMNPV, DNA polymerase, hybridization, DNA:DNA Received 16 December 1986; accepted 30 March 1987.