title: Varicella-zoster virus induces the formation of dynamic nuclear capsid aggregates.
abstract: The first step of herpesviruses virion assembly occurs in the nucleus. However, the exact site where nucleocapsids are assembled, where the genome and the inner tegument are acquired, remains controversial. We created a recombinant VZV expressing ORF23 (homologous to HSV-1 VP26) fused to the eGFP and dually fluorescent viruses with a tegument protein additionally fused to a red tag (ORF9, ORF21 and ORF22 corresponding to HSV-1 UL49, UL37 and UL36). We identified nuclear dense structures containing the major capsid protein, the scaffold protein and maturing protease, as well as ORF21 and ORF22. Correlative microscopy demonstrated that the structures correspond to capsid aggregates and time-lapse video imaging showed that they appear prior to the accumulation of cytoplasmic capsids, presumably undergoing the secondary egress, and are highly dynamic. Our observations suggest that these structures might represent a nuclear area important for capsid assembly and/or maturation before the budding at the inner nuclear membrane.
authors.affiliation: University of Liege (ULg), GIGA-Infection Immunity and Inflammation, Laboratory of Virology and Immunology, Liege, Belgium.
authors.forename: Marielle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lebrun
authors.affiliation: University of Liege (ULg), GIGA-Neurosciences, Laboratory of Cellular and Tissular Biology, Liege, Belgium.
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Thelen
authors.affiliation: University of Liege (ULg), GIGA-Neurosciences, Laboratory of Cellular and Tissular Biology, Liege, Belgium.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thiry
authors.affiliation: University of Liege (ULg), GIGA-Infection Immunity and Inflammation, Laboratory of Virology and Immunology, Liege, Belgium.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Riva
authors.affiliation: University of Liege (ULg), GIGA-Infection Immunity and Inflammation, Laboratory of Virology and Immunology, Liege, Belgium.
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ote
authors.affiliation: University of Liege (ULg), GIGA-Infection Immunity and Inflammation, Laboratory of Virology and Immunology, Liege, Belgium.
authors.forename: Claude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Condé
authors.affiliation: University of Liege (ULg), GIGA-Infection Immunity and Inflammation, Laboratory of Virology and Immunology, Liege, Belgium.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vandevenne
authors.affiliation: University of Liege (ULg), GIGA-Viral Vectors Platform, Liege, Belgium.
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Di Valentin
authors.affiliation: University of Liege (ULg), GIGA-Infection Immunity and Inflammation, Laboratory of Virology and Immunology, Liege, Belgium.
authors.forename: Sébastien
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bontems
authors.affiliation: University of Liege (ULg), GIGA-Infection Immunity and Inflammation, Laboratory of Virology and Immunology, Liege, Belgium. Electronic address: csadzot@ulg.ac.be.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sadzot-Delvaux
mesh_terms: D019677:Artificial Gene Fusion; D002213:Capsid / Q000378:metabolism*; D002460:Cell Line; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000821:virology*; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000378:metabolism*; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D018715:Microscopy, Video; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019065:Virus Assembly
chemical_list: D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins
keywords: Assembly; Capsid; Correlative microscopy; Fluorescent virus; Herpesvirus; ORF23; UL36; UL37; VP26; VZV