title: The HSV-1 tegument protein pUL46 associates with cellular membranes and viral capsids.
abstract: The molecular mechanisms responsible for the addition of tegument proteins into nascent herpesvirus particles are poorly understood. To better understand the tegumentation process of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) virions, we initiated studies that showed the tegument protein pUL46 (VP11/12) has a similar cellular localization to the membrane-associated tegument protein VP22. Using membrane flotation analysis we found that pUL46 associates with membranes in both the presence and absence of other HSV-1 proteins. However, when purified virions were stripped of their envelope, the majority of pUL46 was found to associate with the capsid fraction. This strong affinity of pUL46 for capsids was confirmed by an in vitro capsid pull-down assay in which purified pUL46-GST was able to interact specifically with capsids purified from the nuclear fraction of HSV-1 infected cells. These results suggest that pUL46 displays a dynamic interaction between cellular membranes and capsids.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033, USA.
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: Michelle A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Bucks
authors.forename: Kevin J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: O'Regan
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Courtney
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000378:metabolism*; D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism*; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000821:virology; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D014709:Vero Cells; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D019065:Virus Assembly
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral; D036022:Capsid Proteins; C414831:UL46 protein, Human herpesvirus 1; D014764:Viral Proteins