Gene UL11 of Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Encodes a Virion Protein which Is Myristylated

Abstract

We have investigated whether herpes simplex virus (HSV) contains structural polypeptides which are modified by myristic acid. We demonstrate that herpes simplex virions contain a family of myristylated proteins, Mr approximately 13,000 to 16,000. These were mapped, using HSV-1/HSV-2 intertypic recombinants, to 0.130 to 0.204 map units on the virus genome. Using anti-peptide sera, raised against the carboxyterminus of the predicted UL11 gene product, we have established that the myristylated virion polypeptides are products of the viral gene UL11.