title: Role of human cytomegalovirus tegument proteins in virion assembly.
abstract: Like other herpesviruses, human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) contains a unique proteinaceous layer between the virion envelope and capsid, termed the tegument. Upon infection, the contents of the tegument layer are delivered to the host cell, along with the capsid and the viral genome, where they facilitate the initial stages of virus replication. The tegument proteins also play important roles in virion assembly and this dual nature makes them attractive potential targets for antiviral therapies. While our knowledge regarding tegument protein function during the initiation of infection has been the subject of intense study, their roles in assembly are much less well understood. In this review, we will focus on recent studies that highlight the functions of HCMV tegument proteins during assembly, and pose key questions for further investigation.
authors: Department of Microbiology and Molecular Cell Biology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA 23501, USA. beckstermw@yahoo.com.
authors: Rebecca Marie
authors: RM
authors: Smith
authors: Department of Microbiology and Molecular Cell Biology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA 23501, USA. kosurisr@evms.edu.
authors: Srivenkat
authors: S
authors: Kosuri
authors: Department of Microbiology and Molecular Cell Biology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA 23501, USA. kerryja@evms.edu.
authors: Julie Anne
authors: JA
authors: Kerry
mesh_terms: D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D015678:Viral Structural Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D014771:Virion / Q000502:physiology*; D019065:Virus Assembly
chemical_list: D015678:Viral Structural Proteins