The human cytomegalovirus UL35 gene encodes two proteins with different functions

The human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) virion is a complex structure that contains at least 30 proteins, many of which have been identified. We determined that the HCMV UL35 gene encodes two proteins, including a previously unidentified virion protein. A 22-kDa phosphoprotein (ppUL35(A)) was translated from a 1.2-kb UL35 transcript by 4 h postinfection; a second phosphoprotein of 75 kDa (ppUL35) was translated from a 2.2-kb transcript predominantly late in infection. The 22-kDa protein localized to the nucleus, while the 75-kDa protein localized to the juxtanuclear compartment and was packaged into virion particles. The 22-kDa protein was identical to the COOH-terminal end of the 75-kDa protein but was not found in virions, thus defining the NH(2)-terminal portion of the 75-kDa protein as essential for packaging. Expression of the 22-kDa protein inhibited activation of the major immediate-early promoter by ppUL82 (pp71), suggesting that the UL35 22-kDa protein may modulate expression of the major immediate-early gene.