Nuclear Egress of Herpesviruses

During viral replication, herpesviruses utilize a unique strategy, termed nuclear egress, to translocate capsids from the nucleus into the cytoplasm. This initial budding step transfers a newly formed capsid from within the nucleus, too large to fit through nuclear pores, through the inner nuclear membrane to the perinuclear space. The perinuclear enveloped virion must then fuse with the outer nuclear membrane to be released into the cytoplasm for further maturation, undergoing budding once again at the trans-Golgi network or early endosomes, and ultimately exit the cell non-lytically to spread infection. This first budding process is mediated by two conserved viral proteins, UL31 and UL34, that form a heterodimer called the nuclear egress complex (NEC). This review focuses on what we know about how the NEC mediates capsid transport to the perinuclear space, including steps prior to and after this budding event. Additionally, we discuss the involvement of other viral proteins in this process and how NEC-mediated budding may be regulated during infection.

Automated summary

During viral replication, herpesviruses use a unique strategy called nuclear egress to translocate capsids from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, involving multiple budding and fusion steps. The nuclear egress complex (NEC), consisting of viral proteins UL31 and UL34, plays a crucial role in mediating this process. Other viral proteins may be involved in regulating NEC-mediated budding during infection.