Sequences in the UL11 tegument protein of herpes simplex virus that control association with detergent-resistant membranes

• Published in: Virology (New York, N.Y.) N.Y.), 2008-05, Vol.374 (2), p.315-321
• Main Authors: Baird, Nicholas L, Yeh, Pei-Chun, Courtney, Richard J, Wills, John W
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acidic cluster; Animals; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Membrane - chemistry; Cell Membrane - drug effects; Cell Membrane - metabolism; Cercopithecus aethiops; Detergents - pharmacology; Di-leucine; DRM; Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; Herpes simplex; Herpes simplex virus 1; Herpesvirus 1, Human - genetics; Herpesvirus 1, Human - metabolism; Herpesvirus 1, Human - pathogenicity; Humans; Infectious Disease; Lipid raft; Myristate; Myristates - metabolism; Octoxynol - pharmacology; Palmitate; Palmitates - metabolism; UL11; Vero Cells; Viral Structural Proteins - chemistry; Viral Structural Proteins - genetics; Viral Structural Proteins - metabolism
• ISSN: 0042-6822; 1096-0341
• DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2008.01.007

Abstract The product of the UL 11 gene of HSV-1 is a small, membrane-bound tegument protein with features that are conserved among all herpesviruses. For all viruses examined, mutants lacking this protein (or its homolog) have budding defects and accumulate capsids in the cytoplasm of the infected cell. UL11 binds to the cytoplasmic faces of host membranes via N-terminal myristate and nearby palmitate moieties. These fatty-acid modifications are typical of proteins that localize to detergent-resistant membranes (DRMs), and the experiments described here revealed that a small amount (∼ 10%) of UL11 retains the ability to float in sucrose gradients following treatment of cells with Triton X-100. However, mutants lacking sequences previously shown to be involved in the trafficking of UL11 from the plasma membrane (LI and acidic cluster motifs) were found to have a dramatically increased association with DRMs. These findings emphasize the dynamic properties of this poorly-understood but conserved tegument protein.