Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 26, 2026

Temporal Analysis of the Nuclear-to-cytoplasmic Translocation of a Herpes Simplex Virus 1 Protein by Immunofluorescent Confocal Microscopy
06:40

Temporal Analysis of the Nuclear-to-cytoplasmic Translocation of a Herpes Simplex Virus 1 Protein by Immunofluorescent Confocal Microscopy

Published on: November 4, 2018

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gH/gL supercomplexes at early stages of herpesvirus entry

Ekaterina E Heldwein1

  • 1Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA.

Current Opinion in Virology
|February 6, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Herpesvirus entry involves complex glycoprotein interactions. Understanding these molecular mechanisms, particularly the signal relay to the fusogen gB, is crucial for future antiviral strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Structural Biology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Herpesvirus entry into host cells relies on intricate glycoprotein interactions.
  • Key proteins include the receptor-binding protein, heterodimer gH/gL, and fusogen gB.
  • While individual structures exist, high-order glycoprotein complexes remain poorly understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the structural mechanisms of herpesvirus entry.
  • To understand how signals are transmitted from receptor-binding proteins to the fusogen gB.
  • To investigate the role of gH/gL in membrane fusion.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of recent crystal structures of glycoprotein complexes.
  • Investigating dynamic intermediate complexes.
  • Focus on human cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr virus systems.

Main Results:

  • Structures of early-stage entry complexes reveal mechanisms controlling viral tropism.
  • Dynamic intermediate complexes involving gH/gL were identified.
  • These complexes may directly mediate membrane deformation and juxtaposition.

Conclusions:

  • Recent structural insights advance understanding of herpesvirus entry.
  • The signal relay pathway to the fusogen gB is a critical area for future research.
  • Further structural studies are needed to fully map the fusion mechanism.

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