KITH_HHV1 Antibody – Rabbit

Function: In latent infection, may allow the virus to be reactivated and to grow in cells lacking a high concentration of phosphorylated nucleic acid precursors, such as nerve cells that do not replicate their genome

By similarity.

Catalytic activity: ATP + thymidine = ADP + thymidine 5'-phosphate.

Subunit structure: Homodimer

By similarity.

Biotechnological use: Used in molecular biology as a selectable marker to identify transfected eukaryotic cells. Used in cancer suicide gene therapy to selectively kill transformed cells.

Miscellaneous: Phosphorylates and thereby activates certain drugs used to treat herpes simplex infections like acyclovir (ACV), valaciclovir, and famciclovir to a toxic form, that leads to successful suppression of the infection, while the uninfected cell does not have this ability because it lacks TK. Mutations in thymidine kinase may induce HHV resistance to antiviral therapies in immunocompromised patients. The most frequently observed resistant strains are unable to express TK and are avirulent in animal models of disease. Resistance may be acquired less frequently by selecting variants which no longer recognize ACV or ACV triphosphate as substrates but which retain normal functions.The sequence shown is that of strain TAS.

Sequence similarities: Belongs to the herpesviruses thymidine kinase family.