Several small DNA viruses replicate their DNA in the absense of their own encoded DNA polymerase. Explain how this is possible. What virus gene product indirectly faciliates virus DNA synthesis even though it does not function as a polymerase?
Small DNA viruses such as parvovirus spend their entire life cycle in the nucleus to have access to the host's polymerase and do not encode their own polymerase. They rely entirely on the host's DNA polymerase for genome replication and mRNA synthesis. The virus produces non-structural protein NS1. NS1 is an origin recognition protein essential for replication of the viral genome, which is not a DNA polymerase. It binds to the double-stranded virus DNA and allows host DNA polymerase to replicate viral DNA, which will generate single-stranded copies of the viral genome (parvovirus). These viruses can only replicate in actively growing cells, that express all of the cellular factors necessary for DNA replication.
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