Unwinding of a herpes simplex virus type 1 origin of replication (OriS) by a complex of the viral origin binding protein and the single-stranded DNA binding protein

A herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) Ori(S) analogue in which the A+T sequence linking: the box I and II elements was replaced by two single-stranded oligo(dT)s is unwound by the UL9 protein ICP8 complex. Unwinding of wild-type Ori(S) by the UL9 protein-ICP8 complex was also observed under conditions which destabilize the A+T sequence. These experiments support a model for the unwinding of Ori(S) in which destabilization of the A+T sequence can generate a single-stranded DNA binding site for ICP8, which then associates with the UL9 protein bound to boxes I and II to promote the bidirectional unwinding of Ori(S).