Disease relevance of UL49

• Comparative analysis of DNA sequences located between the coding regions of genes UL49 and UL50 of herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and -2) has revealed a small open reading frame (ORF) of 91 and 87 codons respectively with the characteristics of a genuine protein-coding region [1].
• The varicella-zoster virus (VZV) ORF9 protein is a member of the herpesvirus UL49 gene family but shares limited identity and similarity with the UL49 prototype, herpes simplex virus type 1 VP22 [2].
• Using the polymerase chain reaction we have cloned the UL49 open reading frame into a mammalian expression vector under the control of the human cytomegalovirus immediate early gene promoter [3].
• Antigen specificity was further tested by using vaccinia virus vectors that express glycoproteins gD2 and gB2 or the tegument protein VP16 [4].
• Herpes simplex virus type 1(HSV-1) L-particles are known to be composed mainly of envelope and tegument proteins, to lack the nucleocapsid, and to be noninfectious [5].

High impact information on UL49

• HLA-B*07 expression correlated with stronger responses overall that were directed primarily against UL49 and UL46 [6].
• However, the IE63 mutants were attenuated in skin but not T cells in vivo, indicating that the contribution of the IE63 tegument/regulatory protein to VZV pathogenesis depends upon the differentiated human cell type which is targeted for infection within the intact tissue microenvironment [7].
• The MDV UL49 gene, which encodes the tegument viral protein 22 (VP22), has been expressed as a green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusion protein in chicken embryonic fibroblasts to examine its subcellular localization [8].
• Indirect evidence exists to suggest that it is encoded by gene UL49, present in the BamHI F fragment of the genome [3].
• Assembly of enveloped tegument structures (L particles) can occur independently of virion maturation in herpes simplex virus type 1-infected cells [9].

Chemical compound and disease context of UL49

• These results indicate that tyrphostin may represent a novel class of inhibitors of HSV-1, and that the viral proteins which have phosphorylated tyrosine residues and are suppressed by AG17 most significantly are the products of the UL47 gene, the tegument proteins VP13/14 [10].

Biological context of UL49

• The UL41 encoded protein is a functional tegument protein also present in light (L) particles and is not essential for virus replication [11].

Analytical, diagnostic and therapeutic context of UL49

• Electron microscopy studies suggest that the processes governing the assembly of tegument and envelope components into L particles are similar to those involved in virion maturation [9].

References