The key stages of Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) assembly and the roles of specific viral proteins, based on advanced imaging data. (A; lower left) In the host cell nucleus, HSV-1 DNA is replicated, and a protein capsid that encloses the viral genome is assembled. These capsids (purple hexagons) bind to pUL34, a component of the nuclear egress complex (NEC) and move towards the inner nuclear membrane of the host cell (INM). The capsid-protein complexes then bud into the perinuclear space (PNS) between the inner and outer membrane of the cell nucleus, where they acquire a temporary envelope from the INM (depicted as a circle around the hexagon). (B) The viral complexes then fuse with the outer nuclear membrane (ONM), where they shed their temporary envelope and are released into the cytoplasm. The viral kinase pUS3 regulates the NEC and thus influences the efficiency of the capsids transit through the nuclear envelope. (C) Once in the cytoplasm, VP16 binds to the capsid to stabilize it for further maturation. Then, pUL16 starts to form the tegument (gray dotted circle), a protein-rich layer that surrounds the capsid and connects it to the outer layer, the envelope, with pUL21 assisting in cytoplasmic transport of molecules between the two layers (D) VP16 delivers the capsids to the envelopment compartment (EC), where they associate with cytoplasmic vesicles (CV, gray circles) to form secondary envelopes with the help of pUL11, pUL51, gK and gE. (E) Finally, the mature virus particle is transported within the vesicle originating from the envelopment compartment, which then fuses with the cell membrane (CM) to release the mature virion with viral glycoproteins (GP) into the extracellular space.
New in @elife.bsky.social:
LJI Instructor Dawid Zyla (@dzyla.bsky.social) highlights recent research into how herpes simplex virus type 1 assembles within infected cells — revealing the roles of essential viral proteins in viral assembly and exit.
elifesciences.org/articles/106... #virology
