title: Nuclear export of VP19C is not essential for replication of herpes simplex virus type 1.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 has a 152 kb double-stranded DNA genome that may encode more than 80 gene products, many of which remain uncharacterized. The HSV-1 triplex is a complex of three protein subunits, VP19C and a dimer of VP23 that is essential for capsid assembly. Previous studies have demonstrated that HSV-1 VP19C contains an atypical nuclear localization signal and a functional nuclear export signal (NES), which are both important for the nucleocytoplasmic shuttling of VP19C. However, whether the VP19C NES is required for efficient HSV-1 production is unknown.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the present study, a VP19C NES-mutated recombinant virus was generated by using bacterial artificial chromosome recombineering technology to investigate the role of VP19C nuclear export in HSV-1 replication. Our results demonstrate that the growth curves, plaque areas, subcellular localization and viral gene expression are indistinguishable between the VP19C NES-mutated virus and the wild-type virus.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings reported herein indicate abrogation of the nuclear export of VP19C did not affect HSV-1 replication and viral gene expression.
authors.affiliation: Guangdong Key Laboratory of Age-Related Cardiac and Cerebral Diseases, Affiliated Hospital, of Guangdong Medical College, Zhanjiang, 524001 China ; State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071 China.
authors.forename: You
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Gynaecological and obstetrical department of the fourth affiliated hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150001 China.
authors.forename: Dongwei
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.affiliation: Guangdong Key Laboratory of Age-Related Cardiac and Cerebral Diseases, Affiliated Hospital, of Guangdong Medical College, Zhanjiang, 524001 China.
authors.forename: Guoda
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Guangdong Key Laboratory of Age-Related Cardiac and Cerebral Diseases, Affiliated Hospital, of Guangdong Medical College, Zhanjiang, 524001 China.
authors.forename: Lili
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical College, Zhanjiang, 524001 China.
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical College, Zhanjiang, 524001 China.
authors.forename: Haihong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Renji College, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000 China.
authors.forename: Wandong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: Guangdong Key Laboratory of Age-Related Cardiac and Cerebral Diseases, Affiliated Hospital, of Guangdong Medical College, Zhanjiang, 524001 China ; Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical College, Zhanjiang, 524001 China.
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Guangdong Key Laboratory of Age-Related Cardiac and Cerebral Diseases, Affiliated Hospital, of Guangdong Medical College, Zhanjiang, 524001 China.
authors.forename: Keshen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Li
keywords: Bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC); Nuclear export signal (NES); Replication; VP19C