Nuclear matrix modifications at different stages of infection by herpes simplex virus type 1

In BHK-21 cells infected with herpes simplex virus type 1 many virus-induced proteins were found attached to the nuclear matrix. To understand the role of this cell fraction during virogenesis, matrix-associated proteins were analysed at different stages of infection. All the immediate-early protein species were bound to the nuclear matrix and their association with this structure was stable. During the first few hours of infection, the pattern of virus-induced proteins attached to the nuclear matrix remained identical, indicating that polypeptides from the early group are not associated with this cell fraction. Among the late proteins, which are generally structural proteins, 60% of the nuclear proteins were tightly bound to the nuclear matrix. This suggests that the nuclear matrix is involved in at least two different events during virogenesis, regulation of viral infection and assembly of viral capsids.