Human herpesvirus 1 UL24 gene encodes a potential PD-(D/E)XK endonuclease

Using Meta-BASIC, a highly sensitive method for detection of distant similarity between proteins, we have identified another potential PD-(D/E)XK endonuclease in human herpesvirus 1 (HHV-1) encoded by the UL24 gene. The universal presence of UL24 in completed herpesviral genomes of three major subfamilies, Alphaherpesvirinae, Betaherpesvirinae, and Gammaherpesvirinae, suggests a fundamental role for this predicted PD-(D/E)XK endonuclease activity in the viral life cycle.