Catalyzed by adenovirus polymerase, the pTP and the terminal residue form a
covalent linkage, the 3'-OH group of which is used as a primer for the synthesis of the
nascent strand (King and Van der Vliet, 1994). Two cellular transcription factors can
stimulate replication initiation (Hatfield and Hearing. 1993). NFI appears to interact with Ad pol to stabilize the binding of the pTP/Ad pol heterodimer to the replication origins (Amentero et ai., 1994; Coenjaerts and Van der Vliet. 1994). NFIIVOct-1 may stimulate replication initiation by inducing bending of the DNA at the origin of DNA replication. promoting interactions between the various components in the preinitiation complex (Hagmeyer et al., 1993; Coenjaens et al., 1994). Altematively, direct interaction with the pTP/Ad pol heterodimer may be responsible for the stimulation.