Transfer of the gene for thymidine kinase to thymidine kinase-deficient human cells by purified herpes simplex viral DNA.

Transformation of human cells from a thymidine kinase (ATP:thymidine 5'-phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.75)-negative to a thymidine kinase-positive phenotype has been achieved by using purified DNA from herpes simplex virus type 2. The specific activity of the DNA was in the range 0.5 to 2.0 transformants per microng and the efficiency of gene transfer was up to 1 transformant per 10(5) recipient cells. Several transformed lines able to grow …