Analysis of filamentous process induction and nuclear localization properties of the HSV-2 serine/threonine kinase Us3

Journal Article · Fri Feb 05 04:00:00 EST 2010 · Virology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.virol.2009.11.012· OSTI ID:21357588

Finnen, Renee L; Roy, Bibhuti B; Hui, Zhang ^[1]

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1. Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Queen's University, Botterell Hall, Room 741, Kingston, Ontario, K7L 3N6 (Canada)

The Us3 serine/threonine kinase encoded by all alphaherpesviruses performs several important functions during virus multiplication. For example, expression of pseudorabies virus (PRV) Us3 causes reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton into filamentous processes (FPs) that promote cell-to-cell spread of virus infection. PRV Us3-induced FP formation requires Us3 kinase activity. To determine whether these characteristics were shared by HSV-2 Us3, expression plasmids for wild type (WT) and kinase dead (KD) Us3 variants were constructed. Expression of WT Us3 resulted in robust FP formation whereas expression of the KD Us3 variants did not. In the course of these experiments we noted that KD/K220 mutant Us3s were excluded from the nucleus in comparison to WT or KD/D305A Us3, prompting us to investigate Us3 nuclear shuttling properties. Herein we describe determinants of HSV-2 Us3-induced FP formation and present evidence for the presence of a leucine-rich nuclear export signal within HSV-2 Us3.

• OSTI ID: 21357588
• Journal Information: Virology, Journal Name: Virology Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 397; ISSN VIRLAX; ISSN 0042-6822
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES
ACTIN
AMINO ACIDS
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CELL CONSTITUENTS
HYDROXY ACIDS
LEUCINE
MICROORGANISMS
MICROTUBULES
MUTANTS
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PARASITES
PLASMIDS
PROTEINS
SERINE
THREONINE
VIRUSES