Mutational analysis of the Herpes simplex virus type 1 UL25 DNA packaging protein reveals regions that are important after the viral DNA has been packaged

O'Hara, M., Rixon, F.J., Stow, N.D., Murray, J., Murphy, M. and Preston, V.G. (2010) Mutational analysis of the Herpes simplex virus type 1 UL25 DNA packaging protein reveals regions that are important after the viral DNA has been packaged. Journal of Virology, 84(9), pp. 4252-4263. (doi: 10.1128/jvi.02442-09) (PMID:20181717) (PMCID:PMC2863786)

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Abstract

The herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) UL25 gene encodes a minor capsid protein, pUL25, that is essential for packaging the full-length viral genome. Six regions which contain disordered residues have been identified in the high-resolution structure of pUL25. To investigate the significance of these flexible regions, a panel of plasmids was generated encoding mutant proteins, with each member lacking the disordered residues in one of the six regions. In addition, UL25 constructs were produced, which specified proteins that contained missense mutations individually affecting two of the four regions on the surface of pUL25 predicted from evolutionary trace analysis to be important in protein-protein interactions. The impacts of these mutations on viral DNA packaging, virus assembly, and growth were examined. Of the nine mutant proteins analyzed, five failed to complement the growth of a UL25 deletion mutant in Vero cells. These noncomplementing proteins fell into three classes. Proteins in one class did not alter the DNA packaging phenotype of an HSV-1 UL25 deletion mutant, whereas proteins from the other two classes allowed the UL25 null mutant to package full-length viral DNA. Subsequent analysis of the latter classes of mutant proteins demonstrated that one class enabled the null virus to release enveloped virus particles from U2OS cells, whereas the other class prevented egress of mature HSV-1 capsids from the nucleus. These findings reveal a new role for pUL25 in virion assembly, consistent with its flexible structure and location on the capsid.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:O'Hara, Mrs Maureen and Stow, Dr Nigel and Murphy, Mrs Mary and Rixon, Dr Frazer and Murray, Mrs Jill and Preston, Dr Valerie
Authors: O'Hara, M., Rixon, F.J., Stow, N.D., Murray, J., Murphy, M., and Preston, V.G.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity
Journal Name:Journal of Virology
Journal Abbr.:J. Virol.
ISSN:0022-538X
ISSN (Online):1098-5514
Published Online:24 February 2010

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Project CodeAward NoProject NamePrincipal InvestigatorFunder's NameFunder RefLead Dept
656531Structural studies on human virusesFrazer RixonMedical Research Council (MRC)MC_UU_12014/6MVLS III - CENTRE FOR VIRUS RESEARCH