Location and Role of Free Cysteinyl Residues in the Sindbis Virus E1 and E2 Glycoproteins

ABSTRACT Sindbis virus is a single-stranded positive-sense RNA virus. It is composed of 240 copies of three structural proteins: E1, E2, and capsid. These proteins form a mature virus particle composed of two nested T=4 icosahedral shells. A complex network of disulfide bonds in the E1 and E2 glycoproteins is developed through a series of structural intermediates as virus maturation occurs (M. Mulvey and D. T. Brown, J. Virol. 68:805-812, 1994; M. Carleton et al., J. Virol. 71:1558-1566, 1997). To better understand the nature of this disulfide network, E1 and E2 cysteinyl residues were labeled with iodoacetamide in the native virus particle and analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. This analysis identified cysteinyl residues of E1 and E2, which were found to be label accessible in the native virus particle, as well as those that were either label inaccessible or blocked by their involvement in disulfide bonds. Native virus particles alkylated with iodoacetamide demonstrated a 4-log decrease in viral infectivity. This suggests that the modification of free cysteinyl residues results in the loss of infectivity by destabilizing the virus particle or that a rearrangement of disulfide bonds, which is required for infectivity, is blocked by the modification. Although modification of these residues prevented infectivity, it did not alter the ability of virus to fuse cells after exposure to acidic pH; thus, modification of free cysteinyl residues biochemically separated the process of infection from the process of membrane fusion.

The Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 DNA Packaging Protein UL17 Is a Virion Protein That Is Present in Both the Capsid and the Tegument Compartments

ABSTRACT The UL17 protein of herpes simplex virus type 1 is essential for packaging the viral genome into the procapsid, a spherical assembly intermediate, and is present in the mature virus particle. We have examined the distribution of UL17 in various assembly products and virions to determine which component of the virus particle UL17 is associated with and at what stage in capsid assembly UL17 is required. UL17 was present in the procapsid, in the DNA-containing angularized C capsid, and in two other angularized capsid forms, A and B, that lack DNA and are thought to be dead-end products. The results suggest that UL17 is a minor capsid protein which is incorporated into the procapsid during assembly of the particle. UL17 was also found in virions and in noninfectious structures known as light (L) particles, which possess a tegument and envelope but lack a capsid. The level of UL17 in these particles was much greater than the amount that could be attributed to capsid contamination of the purified L-particle preparation, suggesting that UL17 is also a tegument protein. The finding that virions contain approximately twofold more UL17 than do C capsids provided further support for the idea that UL17 is present in two different structural components within the mature virion. The UL25 packaging protein, which is also present in virions, was not found in significant amounts in L particles, indicating that it is associated only with the capsid. UL6, the third virion-associated packaging protein, was present in slightly increased levels in L particles.

Analysis of intracellular and intraviral localization of the human cytomegalovirus UL53 protein

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) UL53 belongs to a family of conserved herpesvirus genes. In this work, the expression and localization of the UL53 gene product was analysed. Results obtained showed that pUL53 is a new structural protein. In infected human fibroblasts, pUL53 localizes in cytoplasmic perinuclear granular formations together with other structural viral proteins. In the nucleus, pUL53 forms patches at the nuclear periphery and co-localizes with lamin B at the internal nuclear membrane level. Immunoelectron microscopy studies have disclosed that nuclear pseudo-inclusions are labelled, whereas nucleocapsid formations within the intranuclear skein are negative. Furthermore, the mature virus particle maintains pUL53 at its tegumental level. These data suggest that pUL53 could be involved either in nucleocapsid maturation or in the egress of nucleocapsids from the nucleus to the cytoplasm through the nuclear membrane, a role compatible with the function hypothesized for UL31, its positional homologue in herpes simplex virus type 1.

An association between replicating adenovirus DNA and the nuclear matrix of infected HeLa cells

An association between newly synthesized human adenovirus type 5 DNA and the nuclear matrix of infected HeLa cells is described. Adenovirus-infected cells were pulsed labeled with [3H]thymidine late in infection and the nuclear matrix was prepared. After a 1-min pulse more than 95% of the labeled viral DNA was matrix associated and, when compared with total cell DNA, was resistant to DNase I digestion. When the pulse is longer or is followed by a chase period, the viral DNA remains nuclear matrix associated and less nuclease sensitive than bulk cellular DNA. The resistance to nuclease digestion may result from the close association of viral DNA with the nuclear matrix or could be due to a number of viral-specific proteins which are nuclear matrix associated. It is concluded that viral DNA synthesis occurs in association with the nuclear matrix and the newly synthesized DNA remains matrix associated until it is incorporated into a mature virus particle.

Spontaneous Production of Type C Virus Particles in a Culture Derived from Rat Embryo Cells

Spontaneous release of type C virus particles in long-term cultures of mouse embryo cells as well as induction of similar particles in mouse embryo cell cultures with IUDR or BUDR have been reported. The presence of type C virus particles in cultures of normal rat embryos has not been reported.NB-1, a culture derived from embryos of a New Zealand Black (NB) rat (rats obtained from Mr. Samuel M. Poiley, N.C.I., Bethesda, Md.) and grown in McCoy's 5A medium supplemented with 20% fetal calf serum was passaged weekly. Extracellular virus particles similar to murine leukemia particles appeared in the 22nd subculture. General appearance of cells in passage 23 is shown in Fig. 1. Two budding figures and one immature type C virus particle may be seen in Fig. 2. The virus particles and budding were present in all further passages examined (currently passage 39). Various stages of budding are shown in Figs. 3a,b,c,d. Appearance of a mature virus particle is shown in Fig. 4.