title: Role of human cytomegalovirus UL131A in cell type-specific virus entry and release.
abstract: The human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) genes UL128, UL130 and UL131A are essential for endothelial cell infection. Complementation of the defective UL131A gene of the non-endotheliotropic HCMV strain AD169 with wild-type UL131A in cis in an ectopic position restored endothelial cell tropism. The UL131A protein was found in virions in a complex with gH. Coinfection of fibroblasts with UL131A-negative and -positive viruses restored the endothelial cell tropism of UL131A-negative virions by complementing the virions with UL131A protein. Virus entry into endothelial cells, but not into fibroblasts, was blocked by an antipeptide antiserum to pUL131A. AD169, cis-complemented with wild-type UL131A, showed an impaired release of infectious particles from fibroblasts. A comparable defect in virus release was observed when UL131A was expressed ectopically in a virus background already expressing an intact copy of UL131A. In contrast, virus release from infected endothelial cells was not affected by UL131A. These data suggest a dual role for pUL131A in virus entry and virus exit from infected cells.
authors.affiliation: Max von Pettenkofer-Institut für Virologie, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Pettenkoferstraße 9a, D-80336 München, Germany.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Adler
authors.affiliation: Max von Pettenkofer-Institut für Virologie, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Pettenkoferstraße 9a, D-80336 München, Germany.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Scrivano
authors.affiliation: Max von Pettenkofer-Institut für Virologie, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Pettenkoferstraße 9a, D-80336 München, Germany.
authors.forename: Zsolt
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ruzcics
authors.affiliation: Max von Pettenkofer-Institut für Virologie, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Pettenkoferstraße 9a, D-80336 München, Germany.
authors.forename: Brigitte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rupp
authors.affiliation: Institut für Medizinische Virologie, Universität Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sinzger
authors.affiliation: Max von Pettenkofer-Institut für Virologie, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Pettenkoferstraße 9a, D-80336 München, Germany.
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Koszinowski
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D022202:Chromosomes, Artificial, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity* / Q000502:physiology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000821:virology; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000821:virology; D005814:Genes, Viral; D005816:Genetic Complementation Test; D006801:Humans; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D014774:Virulence / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins