title: Allosteric signaling and a nuclear exit strategy: binding of UL25/UL17 heterodimers to DNA-Filled HSV-1 capsids.
abstract: UL25 and UL17 are two essential minor capsid proteins of HSV-1, implicated in DNA packaging and capsid maturation. We used cryo-electron microscopy to examine their binding to capsids, whose architecture observes T = 16 icosahedral geometry. C-capsids (mature DNA-filled capsids) have an elongated two-domain molecule present at a unique, vertex-adjacent site that is not seen at other quasiequivalent sites or on unfilled capsids. Using SDS-PAGE and mass spectrometry to analyze wild-type capsids, UL25 null capsids, and denaturant-extracted capsids, we conclude that (1) the C-capsid-specific component is a heterodimer of UL25 and UL17, and (2) capsids have additional populations of UL25 and UL17 that are invisible in reconstructions because of sparsity and/or disorder. We infer that binding of the ordered population reflects structural changes induced on the outer surface as pressure builds up inside the capsid during DNA packaging. Its binding may signal that the C-capsid is ready to exit the nucleus.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Structural Biology Research, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
authors.forename: Benes L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Trus
authors.forename: William W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Newcomb
authors.forename: Naiqian
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cardone
authors.forename: Lyuben
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Marekov
authors.forename: Fred L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Homa
authors.forename: Jay C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Alasdair C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Steven
mesh_terms: D000494:Allosteric Regulation; D002213:Capsid / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism*; D020285:Cryoelectron Microscopy; D019281:Dimerization; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D011485:Protein Binding; D021381:Protein Transport; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D036022:Capsid Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins; C069185:DNA cleavage and packaging proteins, Herpesvirus