Chromatin dynamics during herpes simplex virus-1 lytic infection.
Herpes simplex virus type 1 is a DNA virus that can establish lytic infections in epithelial cells and latent infections in sensory neurons. Upon entry into the nucleus the genome of HSV-1 rapidly associates with histone proteins. Similar to the genomes of the cellular host, HSV-1 is subject to chromatin-based regulation of transcription and replication. However, unlike the host genome, nucleosomes appear to be underrepresented on the HSV genome. During lytic infection, when the genome is transcribed, the HSV-1 chromatin structure appears to be disorganized, and characterized by histone variant sub-types and post-translational modifications representative of active chromatin. In contrast, during latency, when the majority of the viral genome is transcriptionally silent, the chromatin is compacted into a regularly repeating, compact heterochromatic structure. Here we discuss recent studies that underscore the importance of chromatin regulation during the lytic phase of the HSV-1 life-cycle.
Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Brandon J
BJ
Placek
Shelley L
SL
Berger
D000818:Animals; D002843:Chromatin / Q000235:genetics*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000378:metabolism*; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral / Q000502:physiology*; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000821:virology*; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D017735:Virus Latency
D002843:Chromatin; D004279:DNA, Viral