Characterization of enveloped tegument structures (L particles) produced by alphaherpesviruses: integrity of the tegument does not depend on the presence of capsid or envelope

McLauchlan, J. and Rixon, F.J. (1992) Characterization of enveloped tegument structures (L particles) produced by alphaherpesviruses: integrity of the tegument does not depend on the presence of capsid or envelope. Journal of General Virology, 73(2), pp. 269-276. (doi: 10.1099/0022-1317-73-2-269)

Abstract

Recent studies have shown that infection with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) strain 17 generates in addition to virions a novel type of non-infectious particle. These particles, termed L particles, lack capsids and viral DNA, and consist predominantly of tegument and envelope proteins. We show that L particle production is not restricted to one strain of HSV-1, and that pseudorabies virus and equine herpesvirus type 1 also release particles which are similar in composition to and morphologically indistinguishable from HSV-1 L particles. Data obtained from monoclonal antibody analysis revealed that Vmw175, an immediate early HSV-1 polypeptide which had been previously identified as a virion component, is located predominantly in L particles and not in virions. Following removal of the envelope from L particles, the remaining tegument material largely retained its structural integrity, indicating that the structure of the tegument does not depend on the presence of the capsid or envelope.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Rixon, Dr Frazer and McLauchlan, Professor John
• Authors: McLauchlan, J., and Rixon, F.J.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity > Centre for Virus Research
• Journal Name: Journal of General Virology
• Journal Abbr.: J. Gen. Virol.
• Publisher: Society for General Microbiology
• ISSN: 0022-1317
• ISSN (Online): 1465-2099