Summary auto-generated
This study investigated the incorporation of cellular lipids into herpes simplex virus (HSV) particles in monkey kidney cells. Using radioactive choline labeling, researchers found that HSV particles contain cellular lipids, primarily lecithin (58-95%), with smaller amounts of sphingomyelin and lysolecithin. Viral infection did not enhance cellular lipid synthesis, but prelabeled lipids were incorporated into virions both in the nucleus and cytoplasm. Treatment with sodium deoxycholate, a detergent, disrupted virus particles and released lipid-protein complexes, indicating that lipids are essential structural components. The findings suggest that during HSV assembly in the nucleus, cellular lipids from the nuclear membrane are integrated into forming virus particles, with the lipid envelope becoming complete as particles transit through the nuclear membrane to the cytoplasm. This demonstrates that envelopment is a critical step in HSV maturation.
Key findings
- Herpes simplex virus particles acquire cellular lipids, predominantly lecithin, from host cell membranes
- Viral infection does not stimulate lipid synthesis, but pre-labeled cellular lipids become incorporated into maturing virions
- Lipid envelope formation begins in the nucleus and is completed during particle passage through the nuclear membrane to the cytoplasm
- Sodium deoxycholate treatment disrupts virus particles by removing lipids and releasing protein and lipid-protein complexes
- Lipids are integral structural components essential for virus particle integrity and infectivity
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Abstract
The synthesis of lipids in BSC 1 cells and their association with herpes simplex virus was studied. Radioactive choline was found to be incorporated mainly into lecithin. Infection of cells with herpes simplex virus did not affect the synthesis of cellular lipoproteins. Infected cells, prelabelled with radioactive choline, yielded virus particles which contained radioactively labelled cellular lipids. Treatment of herpes virus particles with sodium deoxycholate caused the dissociation of the particles and the release of capsomeres and soluble proteins.