Assembly of enveloped tegument structures (L particles) can occur independently of virion maturation in herpes simplex virus type 1-infected cells.
Cells infected with a number of alphaherpesviruses produce non-infectious virion-related particles, termed L particles, in addition to infectious virions. L particles consist of the tegument and envelope components, but lack the virus capsid and DNA. Using a herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) temperature-sensitive mutant, ts1201, which fails to produce mature virions, we show that L particle production is independent of virion formation. Moreover, the quantity and protein composition of L particles generated by this mutant at the non-permissive temperature are indistinguishable from those produced in wild-type HSV-1 infections. Electron microscopy studies suggest that the processes governing the assembly of tegument and envelope components into L particles are similar to those involved in virion maturation.
Rixon
F J
FJ
MRC Virology Unit, University of Glasgow, U.K.
Addison
C
C
McLauchlan
J
J
D000818:Animals; D002213:Capsid / Q000032:analysis; D002460:Cell Line; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009154:Mutation; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D014771:Virion / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure
D004279:DNA, Viral; D014764:Viral Proteins