title: Functional homologies between avian and human alphaherpesvirus VP22 proteins in cell-to-cell spreading as revealed by a new cis-complementation assay.
abstract: VP22, encoded by the UL49 gene of Marek's disease virus (MDV), is indispensable for virus cell-to-cell spreading. We show herein that MDV UL49 can be functionally replaced with avian and human viral orthologs. Replacement of MDV VP22 with that of avian gallid herpesvirus 3 or herpesvirus of turkey, whose residue identity with MDV is close to 60%, resulted in 73 and 131% changes in viral spreading, respectively. In contrast, VP22 replacement with human herpes simplex virus type 1 resulted in 14% plaque formation. Therefore, heterologous avian and human VP22 proteins share sufficient structural homology to support MDV cell-to-cell spreading, albeit with different efficiencies.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Virologie Moléculaire, INRA, UR1282, Infectiologie Animale et Santé Publique, IASP, Nouzilly F-37380, France.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Blondeau
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Marc
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Courvoisier
authors.forename: J-F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Vautherot
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Denesvre
mesh_terms: D018138:Alphaherpesvirinae / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds / Q000821:virology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002642:Chick Embryo; D005816:Genetic Complementation Test; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008381:Herpesvirus 2, Gallid / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D025961:Herpesvirus 3, Gallid / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D025922:Mardivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D012867:Skin / Q000166:cytology; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C450446:UL49 protein, Marek's disease virus type 1; D014764:Viral Proteins