Electron microscopic autoradiographic studies on dynamics and location of DNA synthesis of duck plague virus.

Electron microscopic autoradiographic studies on the dynamics and location of DNA synthesis by means of incorporation of 8H-thymidine during the replication of duck plague virus (DPV) revealed that the duration of DNA synthesis of DPV was rather long. The replication of viral DNA occurred simultaneously with the assembly procedure of nucleocapsids, the maturation and release of viruses. DNA synthesis of DPV occurred in the matrix with lower electron density in the nucleus. The replicated viral DNA accumulated in the viroplast with high electron density where the assembly of nucleocapsids occurred. The viroplast with high electron density was not the region of viral DNA synthesis.