title: The genome of HSV-1 translocates through the nuclear pore as a condensed rod-like structure.
abstract: Incoming herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1) capsids are known to dock to the nuclear pore complex (NPC) and release their genome. It has remained elusive, however, how the huge viral DNA translocates through the comparatively small NPC channel. In the present study, the interaction of HSV-1 with NPCs was analyzed by atomic force microscopy. In addition to capsids, smaller subviral structures--most with a diameter of 35-40 nm and a length of 130-160 nm--were visualized at the cytoplasmic side of the NPC. These components differed from capsids in their adhesion and stiffness properties, and were the sole subviral structures translocated through dilated NPCs towards the nucleus. It is presumed that they are the HSV-1 genome, and that a change in NPC conformation allows translocation of this genome as a densely packaged, rodlike structure.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physiology II, University of Münster, Robert-Koch-Str. 27b, 48149 Münster, Germany. vs297@cam.ac.uk
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Shahin
authors.forename: Wali
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hafezi
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Oberleithner
authors.forename: Yvonne
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ludwig
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Windoffer
authors.forename: Hermann
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schillers
authors.forename: Joachim E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Kühn
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002213:Capsid / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002460:Cell Line; D016679:Genome, Viral; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D022022:Nuclear Pore / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010316:Particle Size; D013499:Surface Properties