Proteins associated with mRNA in cells infected with herpes simplex virus

The structure of messenger ribonucleoprotein (mRNP) complexes in herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infected cells was analyzed by examining the proteins that could be crosslinked to polyadenylated mRNAs by irradiation of intact cells with ultraviolet light. The profiles of crosslinked proteins were qualitatively similar for mRNPs from mock infected and infected cells. However, infection with wild type HSV-1 caused a decrease in the abundance of a major 52 kda protein and an increase in a 49 kda protein. These changes were observed at early times after infection. They occurred following infection with wild type HSV-1 under conditions that blocked viral gene expression, but not following infection with the virion host shutoff mutant vhs 1.