Adsorption, Penetration and Uncoating of Herpes Simplex Virus

Abstract

SUMMARY The interaction of herpes virus particles with BSC1 cells was studied with purified virus particles labelled in the DNA and coat proteins. Intact virions adsorbed to the cell within 3 hr, a process not affected by inhibitors of nucleic acid and protein synthesis. Heparin, a negatively charged polysaccharide, interfered with the interaction of the virions with the cell membrane, and released virions attached to the cell surface. After entering the cytoplasm, some virus particles were associated with large structures. The virus particles were uncoated by existing cellular enzymes and naked viral DNA, but not the coat proteins, was gradually transported into the nuclei.