Interactions among structural proteins of Varicella Zoster Virus

Abstract

Varicella zoster virus tegument components include the regulatory proteins IE4, IE62, IE63 and the ORF10 protein, a protein kinase (ORF47) and an abundant protein encoded in ORF9 which is the homolog of HSV VP22. The kinase is able to phosphorylate IE62 and the ORF9 protein specifically in viral particles. We show that interactions among these proteins are, at least in part, dependent on the presence or absence of phosphate groups and we suggest models for tegument formation and for its dissolution in the infected cell. © Springer-Verlag 2001.