Frontiers in Microbiology (Aug 2020)

The Role of VP16 in the Life Cycle of Alphaherpesviruses

  • Dengjian Fan,
  • Dengjian Fan,
  • Dengjian Fan,
  • Mingshu Wang,
  • Mingshu Wang,
  • Mingshu Wang,
  • Anchun Cheng,
  • Anchun Cheng,
  • Anchun Cheng,
  • Renyong Jia,
  • Renyong Jia,
  • Renyong Jia,
  • Qiao Yang,
  • Qiao Yang,
  • Qiao Yang,
  • Ying Wu,
  • Ying Wu,
  • Ying Wu,
  • Dekang Zhu,
  • Dekang Zhu,
  • Xinxin Zhao,
  • Xinxin Zhao,
  • Xinxin Zhao,
  • Shun Chen,
  • Shun Chen,
  • Shun Chen,
  • Mafeng Liu,
  • Mafeng Liu,
  • Mafeng Liu,
  • Shaqiu Zhang,
  • Shaqiu Zhang,
  • Shaqiu Zhang,
  • Xumin Ou,
  • Xumin Ou,
  • Xumin Ou,
  • Sai Mao,
  • Sai Mao,
  • Sai Mao,
  • Qun Gao,
  • Qun Gao,
  • Qun Gao,
  • Di Sun,
  • Di Sun,
  • Di Sun,
  • Xingjian Wen,
  • Xingjian Wen,
  • Xingjian Wen,
  • Yunya Liu,
  • Yunya Liu,
  • Yunya Liu,
  • Yanling Yu,
  • Yanling Yu,
  • Yanling Yu,
  • Ling Zhang,
  • Ling Zhang,
  • Ling Zhang,
  • Bin Tian,
  • Bin Tian,
  • Leichang Pan,
  • Leichang Pan,
  • Xiaoyue Chen,
  • Xiaoyue Chen,
  • Xiaoyue Chen

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2020.01910
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11

Abstract

Read online

The protein encoded by the UL48 gene of alphaherpesviruses is named VP16 or alpha-gene-transactivating factor (α-TIF). In the early stage of viral replication, VP16 is an important transactivator that can activate the transcription of viral immediate-early genes, and in the late stage of viral replication, VP16, as a tegument, is involved in viral assembly. This review will explain the mechanism of VP16 acting as α-TIF to activate the transcription of viral immediate-early genes, its role in the transition from viral latency to reactivation, and its effects on viral assembly and maturation. In addition, this review also provides new insights for further research on the life cycle of alphaherpesviruses and the role of VP16 in the viral life cycle.

Keywords