scholarly journals Differentiating the Roles of UL16, UL21 and Us3 in the Nuclear Egress of Herpes Simplex Virus Capsids

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jie Gao ◽  
Renée L. Finnen ◽  
Maxwell R. Sherry ◽  
Valerie Le Sage ◽  
Bruce W. Banfield

AbstractPrevious studies from our laboratory established that pUL16 and pUL21 are required for efficient nuclear egress of herpes simplex type 2 (HSV-2) capsids. To better understand the role of these proteins in nuclear egress, we wished to establish whether nuclear egress complex (NEC) localization and/or function was altered in the absence of either pUL16 or pUL21. We used antiserum raised against HSV-2 NEC components pUL31 and pUL34 to examine NEC localization by immunofluorescence microscopy. NEC localization in cells infected with pUL16 deficient viruses was indistinguishable from that observed in cells infected with wild type viruses. By contrast, NEC localization was found to be aberrant in cells infected with pUL21 deficient virus and, instead, showed some similarity to the aberrant NEC localization pattern observed in cells infected with pUs3 deficient virus. These results indicated that pUL16 plays a role in nuclear egress that is distinct from that of pUL21 and pUs3. Higher resolution examination of nuclear envelope ultrastructure in cells infected with pUL21 deficient viruses by transmission electron microscopy showed different types of nuclear envelope perturbations, including some that were not observed in cells infected with pUs3 deficient virus. The formation of the nuclear envelope perturbations observed in pUL21 deficient virus infections was found to be dependent on a functional NEC, revealing a novel role for pUL21 in regulating NEC activity. The results of comparisons of nuclear envelope ultrastructure in cells infected with viruses lacking pUs3, pUL16 or both pUs3 and pUL16 were consistent with a role for pUL16 upstream of primary capsid envelopment and shed new light on how pUs3 functions in nuclear egress.Author summaryThe membrane deformation activity of the herpesvirus nuclear egress complex (NEC), allows viral capsids to transit from their site of assembly in the nucleus through both nuclear membranes into the cytoplasm. The timing, extent and directionality of NEC activity must be precisely controlled during viral infection, yet our knowledge of how NEC activity is controlled is incomplete. To determine how pUL16 and pUL21, two viral proteins required for nuclear egress of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) capsids, function to promote nuclear egress, we examined how the lack of each protein impacted NEC localization. These analyses revealed a function of pUL16 in nuclear egress that is distinct from that of pUL21, uncovered a novel role for pUL21 in regulating NEC activity and shed new light on how a viral kinase, pUs3, regulates nuclear egress. Nuclear egress of viral capsids is a common feature of the replicative cycle of all herpesviruses. A complete understanding of all aspects of nuclear egress, including how viral NEC activity is controlled, may yield strategies to disrupt this process that could be applied to the development of herpes-specific antiviral drugs.

2020 ◽  
Vol 94 (13) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jie Gao ◽  
Renée L. Finnen ◽  
Maxwell R. Sherry ◽  
Valerie Le Sage ◽  
Bruce W. Banfield

ABSTRACT Viral proteins pUL16 and pUL21 are required for efficient nuclear egress of herpes simplex virus 2 capsids. To better understand the role of these proteins in nuclear egress, we established whether nuclear egress complex (NEC) distribution and/or function was altered in the absence of either pUL16 or pUL21. NEC distribution in cells infected with pUL16-deficient viruses was indistinguishable from that observed in cells infected with wild-type viruses. In contrast, NEC distribution was aberrant in cells infected with pUL21-deficient virus and, instead, showed some similarity to the aberrant NEC distribution pattern observed in cells infected with pUs3-deficient virus. These results indicated that pUL16 plays a role in nuclear egress that is distinct from that of pUL21 and pUs3. Higher-resolution examination of nuclear envelope ultrastructure in cells infected with pUL21-deficient viruses by transmission electron microscopy showed different types of nuclear envelope perturbations, including some that were not observed in cells infected with pUs3 deficient virus. The formation of the nuclear envelope perturbations observed in pUL21-deficient virus infections was dependent on a functional NEC, revealing a novel role for pUL21 in regulating NEC activity. The results of comparisons of nuclear envelope ultrastructure in cells infected with viruses lacking pUs3, pUL16, or both pUs3 and pUL16 were consistent with a role for pUL16 in advance of primary capsid envelopment and shed new light on how pUs3 functions in nuclear egress. IMPORTANCE The membrane deformation activity of the herpesvirus nuclear egress complex (NEC) allows capsids to transit through both nuclear membranes into the cytoplasm. NEC activity must be precisely controlled during viral infection, and yet our knowledge of how NEC activity is controlled is incomplete. To determine how pUL16 and pUL21, two viral proteins required for nuclear egress of herpes simplex virus 2, function in nuclear egress, we examined how the lack of each protein impacted NEC distribution. These analyses revealed a function of pUL16 in nuclear egress distinct from that of pUL21, uncovered a novel role for pUL21 in regulating NEC activity, and shed new light on how a viral kinase, pUs3, regulates nuclear egress. Nuclear egress of capsids is required for all herpesviruses. A complete understanding of all aspects of nuclear egress, including how viral NEC activity is controlled, may yield strategies to disrupt this process and aid the development of herpes-specific antiviral therapies.


2000 ◽  
Vol 74 (22) ◽  
pp. 10417-10429 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. C. Smith ◽  
J. Nelson ◽  
L. Aurelian ◽  
M. Gober ◽  
B. B. Goswami

ABSTRACT We used a herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) mutant with a deletion in the RR1 (ICP10) PK domain (ICP10ΔPK) and an MEK inhibitor (PD98059) to examine the role of ICP10 PK in virus growth. In HSV-2-infected cells, ICP10 PK binds and phosphorylates the GTPase activating protein Ras-GAP. In vitro binding and peptide competition assays indicated that Ras-GAP N-SH2 and PH domains, respectively, bind ICP10 at phosphothreonines 117 and 141 and a WD40-like motif at positions 160 to 173. Binding and phosphorylation did not occur in cells infected with ICP10ΔPK. GTPase activity was significantly lower in HSV-2- than in ICP10ΔPK-infected cells. Conversely, the levels of activated Ras and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and the expression and stabilization of the transcription factor c-Fos were significantly increased in cells infected with HSV-2 or a revertant virus [HSV-2(R)] but not with ICP10ΔPK. PD98059 inhibited MAPK activation and induction-stabilization of c-Fos. Expression from the ICP10 promoter was increased in cells infected with HSV-2 but not with ICP10ΔPK, and increased expression was ablated by PD98059. ICP10 DNA formed a complex with nuclear extracts from HSV-2-infected cells which was supershifted by c-Fos antibody and was not seen with extracts from ICP10ΔPK-infected cells. Complex formation was abrogated by PD98059. Onset of HSV-2 replication was significantly delayed by PD98059 (14 h versus 2 h in untreated cells), a delay similar to that seen for ICP10ΔPK. The data indicate that Ras-GAP phosphorylation by ICP10 PK is involved in the activation of the Ras/MEK/MAPK mitogenic pathway and c-Fos induction and stabilization. This results in increased ICP10 expression and the timely onset of HSV-2 growth.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jamil H Muradov ◽  
Renee L Finnen ◽  
Michael A Gulak ◽  
Thomas J. M. Hay ◽  
Bruce W Banfield

It is well established that the herpesvirus nuclear egress complex (NEC) has an intrinsic ability to deform membranes. During viral infection, the membrane-deformation activity of the NEC must be precisely regulated to ensure efficient nuclear egress of capsids. One viral protein known to regulate herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) NEC activity is the tegument protein pUL21. Cells infected with an HSV-2 mutant lacking pUL21 (ΔUL21) produced a slower migrating species of the viral serine/threonine kinase pUs3 that was shown to be a hyperphosphorylated form of the enzyme. Investigation of the pUs3 substrate profile in ΔUL21-infected cells revealed a prominent band with a molecular weight consistent with that of the NEC components pUL31 and pUL34. Phosphatase sensitivity and retarded mobility in phos-tag SDS-PAGE confirmed that both pUL31 and pUL34 were hyperphosphorylated by pUs3 in the absence of pUL21. To gain insight into the consequences of increased phosphorylation of NEC components, the architecture of the nuclear envelope in cells producing the HSV-2 NEC in the presence or absence of pUs3 was examined. In cells with robust NEC production, invaginations of the inner nuclear membrane were observed that contained budded vesicles of uniform size. By contrast, nuclear envelope deformations protruding outwards from the nucleus, were observed when pUs3 was included in transfections with the HSV-2 NEC. Finally, when pUL21 was included in transfections with the HSV-2 NEC and pUs3, decreased phosphorylation of NEC components was observed in comparison to transfections lacking pUL21. These results demonstrate that pUL21 influences the phosphorylation status of pUs3 and the HSV-2 NEC and that this has consequences for the architecture of the nuclear envelope.


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