Herpesvirus Nuclear Egress across the Outer Nuclear Membrane

Herpesvirus capsids are assembled in the nucleus and undergo a two-step process to cross the nuclear envelope. Capsids bud into the inner nuclear membrane (INM) aided by the nuclear egress complex (NEC) proteins UL31/34. At that stage of egress, enveloped virions are found for a short time in the pe...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Richard J. Roller, David C. Johnson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-11-01
Series:Viruses
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/13/12/2356
_version_ 1797499953494360064
author Richard J. Roller
David C. Johnson
author_facet Richard J. Roller
David C. Johnson
author_sort Richard J. Roller
collection DOAJ
description Herpesvirus capsids are assembled in the nucleus and undergo a two-step process to cross the nuclear envelope. Capsids bud into the inner nuclear membrane (INM) aided by the nuclear egress complex (NEC) proteins UL31/34. At that stage of egress, enveloped virions are found for a short time in the perinuclear space. In the second step of nuclear egress, perinuclear enveloped virions (PEVs) fuse with the outer nuclear membrane (ONM) delivering capsids into the cytoplasm. Once in the cytoplasm, capsids undergo re-envelopment in the Golgi/trans-Golgi apparatus producing mature virions. This second step of nuclear egress is known as de-envelopment and is the focus of this review. Compared with herpesvirus envelopment at the INM, much less is known about de-envelopment. We propose a model in which de-envelopment involves two phases: (i) fusion of the PEV membrane with the ONM and (ii) expansion of the fusion pore leading to release of the viral capsid into the cytoplasm. The first phase of de-envelopment, membrane fusion, involves four herpes simplex virus (HSV) proteins: gB, gH/gL, gK and UL20. gB is the viral fusion protein and appears to act to perturb membranes and promote fusion. gH/gL may also have similar properties and appears to be able to act in de-envelopment without gB. gK and UL20 negatively regulate these fusion proteins. In the second phase of de-envelopment (pore expansion and capsid release), an alpha-herpesvirus protein kinase, US3, acts to phosphorylate NEC proteins, which normally produce membrane curvature during envelopment. Phosphorylation of NEC proteins reverses tight membrane curvature, causing expansion of the membrane fusion pore and promoting release of capsids into the cytoplasm.
first_indexed 2024-03-10T03:54:52Z
format Article
id doaj.art-240cb7605756475a862b816fdf9af65d
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1999-4915
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-10T03:54:52Z
publishDate 2021-11-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Viruses
spelling doaj.art-240cb7605756475a862b816fdf9af65d2023-11-23T10:56:45ZengMDPI AGViruses1999-49152021-11-011312235610.3390/v13122356Herpesvirus Nuclear Egress across the Outer Nuclear MembraneRichard J. Roller0David C. Johnson1Microbiology & Immunology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USAMolecular Microbiology & Immunology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USAHerpesvirus capsids are assembled in the nucleus and undergo a two-step process to cross the nuclear envelope. Capsids bud into the inner nuclear membrane (INM) aided by the nuclear egress complex (NEC) proteins UL31/34. At that stage of egress, enveloped virions are found for a short time in the perinuclear space. In the second step of nuclear egress, perinuclear enveloped virions (PEVs) fuse with the outer nuclear membrane (ONM) delivering capsids into the cytoplasm. Once in the cytoplasm, capsids undergo re-envelopment in the Golgi/trans-Golgi apparatus producing mature virions. This second step of nuclear egress is known as de-envelopment and is the focus of this review. Compared with herpesvirus envelopment at the INM, much less is known about de-envelopment. We propose a model in which de-envelopment involves two phases: (i) fusion of the PEV membrane with the ONM and (ii) expansion of the fusion pore leading to release of the viral capsid into the cytoplasm. The first phase of de-envelopment, membrane fusion, involves four herpes simplex virus (HSV) proteins: gB, gH/gL, gK and UL20. gB is the viral fusion protein and appears to act to perturb membranes and promote fusion. gH/gL may also have similar properties and appears to be able to act in de-envelopment without gB. gK and UL20 negatively regulate these fusion proteins. In the second phase of de-envelopment (pore expansion and capsid release), an alpha-herpesvirus protein kinase, US3, acts to phosphorylate NEC proteins, which normally produce membrane curvature during envelopment. Phosphorylation of NEC proteins reverses tight membrane curvature, causing expansion of the membrane fusion pore and promoting release of capsids into the cytoplasm.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/13/12/2356de-envelopmentphosphorylationnuclear envelopment complexmembrane fusionhemi-fusion
spellingShingle Richard J. Roller
David C. Johnson
Herpesvirus Nuclear Egress across the Outer Nuclear Membrane
Viruses
de-envelopment
phosphorylation
nuclear envelopment complex
membrane fusion
hemi-fusion
title Herpesvirus Nuclear Egress across the Outer Nuclear Membrane
title_full Herpesvirus Nuclear Egress across the Outer Nuclear Membrane
title_fullStr Herpesvirus Nuclear Egress across the Outer Nuclear Membrane
title_full_unstemmed Herpesvirus Nuclear Egress across the Outer Nuclear Membrane
title_short Herpesvirus Nuclear Egress across the Outer Nuclear Membrane
title_sort herpesvirus nuclear egress across the outer nuclear membrane
topic de-envelopment
phosphorylation
nuclear envelopment complex
membrane fusion
hemi-fusion
url https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/13/12/2356
work_keys_str_mv AT richardjroller herpesvirusnuclearegressacrosstheouternuclearmembrane
AT davidcjohnson herpesvirusnuclearegressacrosstheouternuclearmembrane