ICP8
ICP8, the herpes simplex virus type-1 single-strand DNA-binding protein, is one of seven
ssDNA) as well as melt small fragments of double-stranded DNA (dsDNA);[1] its role is to destabilize duplex DNA during initiation of replication. It differs from helicases because it is ATP- and Mg2+-independent.[1]
In cells infected with HSV-1, the DNA in those cells become colocalized with ICP8.
ICP8 is required in late gene
transcription, and has found to be associated with cellular RNA polymerase II holoenzyme.[2]