During herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) replication, newly constructed capsids escape the nucleus to undergo maturation in the cytoplasm via a process termed nuclear egress. Capsids perform nuclear egress through localized disruption of the nuclear lamina, envelopment of the inner nuclear membrane to create a perinuclear enveloped virion, and de-envelopment of the outer nuclear membrane for capsid release into the cytoplasm. Critical virial factors for this process are viral proteins pUL31 and pUL34 that interact to form heterodimers. These heterodimers form larger hexameric arrays to drive membrane budding. Through the characterization of phenotypes of UL34 point mutants, we are able to further study the underlying mechanisms of nuclear lamina disruption and nuclear budding. One such mutant, UL34(Q163A), results in impaired virus production, cell-cell spread, and an inability to disrupt lamin A/C networks. Selection for extragenic suppression of UL34(Q163A) yielded the UL31(R229L) mutation, that partially rescued the growth and spread defects of UL34(Q163A), but was unable to regain the ability to disrupt lamin A/C networks. Through this study we concluded that disruption of lamin A/C networks was not required for efficient HSV-1 replication. In order to understand the underlying mechanisms of membrane budding, the previously characterized UL34(CL13) double mutant, which results in a 100-fold reduction in virus production, a severe impairment in cell-cell spread, and an accumulation of capsid-less perinuclear vesicles was further studied. Characterization of the single mutations of UL34(CL13), UL34(R158A) and UL34(R161A) revealed that neither single mutation was responsible for spread or growth defect, but that either single mutation resulted in a promiscuous budding phenotype. Through this study, we concluded that although individual steps of the nuclear egress pathway are tightly regulated, alteration of the regulation at a single step does not grossly impact HSV-1 replication.

The herpesvirus life cycle involves a step where newly formed capsids leave the nucleus by translocating across the intact nuclear envelope (NE). Little is known about the role of cellular factors during nuclear egress. We sought to identify novel cellular proteins that interact with the conserved herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) pUL34 by performing a yeast two-hybrid screen. pUL34 was chosen due to its crucial and multifunctional role during nuclear egress. From 42 cellular factors that interacted with pUL34 in yeast, twelve were further evaluated in mammalian cells by co-localization studies using immunofluorescence. No specific co-location between the tested cellular factors and pUL34 was observed in infected cells, thus the screen failed to convincingly identify novel pUL34 interactors. In the second part of the thesis we addressed the functional significance of the cellular protein torsinA (TA) in the HSV-1 life cycle. We became interested in TA due to its role in maintaining normal NE morphology. We showed that perturbing the normal function of TA through overexpression impaired HSV-1 replication and caused a defect in capsid nuclear egress. In mouse embryonic fibroblasts that failed to express TA (TA-/-MEFs), HSV-1 replication was also inhibited, but a defect in capsid nuclear egress was not apparent. Strikingly, infection in TA-null MEFs induced a NE breakdown, the extent of which was dependent on viral products involved in nuclear egress. The viral growth defect and NE envelope breakdown, however, seem to be TA-null cell line specific rather than a functional consequence of TA loss as indicated by TA-/-MEFs reconstituted with TA and 293T with reduced TA levels. In conclusion, overexpression and loss of TA have different effects on the HSV-1 life cycle.

HSV-1 and HSV-2, both double-stranded DNA viruses of the Alphaherpesvirinae subfamily, reportedly have sub-clinical prevalence in nearly 67% of the world population. During their intra-nuclear virus replication, four types of capsids (procapsids, A, B, and C capsids) are produced while only C-capsids contain mature DNA. Given their larger size (125 nm) than the nuclear pores (30-50 nm), they exit the nucleus by an unusual route called nuclear egress. On the other hand, our lab previously found that HSV-1 incorporates 49 distinct host proteins, including DDX3X, a DEAD (Asp-Glu-Ala-Asp) box ATP-dependent RNA helicase that modulates gene expression of both DNA and RNA viruses. We also showed that DDX3X is redirected to the inner nuclear membrane late during the infection and interacts with pUL31, a component of the viral nuclear egress complex, to promote the nuclear exit of the viral capsids to the cytoplasm. However, the exact nature of such interactions remains elusive. On the other hand, our lab also reported that PCBP1 is specifically present on the C-capsids, and its depletion causes a reduction in viral titer. PCBP1 is known to bind with poly(c) RNA through K-homology (KH) domains and plays a role in mRNA stabilization, transcriptional control, RNA translation, antiviral immunity, and the modulation of viral propagation. Using confocal microscopy and co-immunoprecipitation studies, the present work reveals that DDX3X interacts with both components of the nuclear egress complex, i.e., pUL31 and pUL34, and that this interaction is independent of their phosphorylation by the pUS3 kinase that normally modulates their localization. Moreover, we also show that DDX3X interacts with PCBP1, which could explain the preferential selection of the C-capsids during the nuclear egress. This study is a step forward to map the complex multiple host protein interactions with viral partners and elucidate their possible role in the enigmatic selective escape of HSV-1 C-capsids. / HSV-1 et HSV-2, tous deux des virus à ADN double brin de la sous-famille des Alphaherpesvirinae, ont une prévalence subclinique chez près de 67 % de la population mondiale. Au cours de leur réplication virale intra-nucléaire, quatre types de capsides (procapsides, capsides A, B et C) sont produites tandis que seules les capsides C contiennent de l'ADN mature. Compte tenu de leur plus grande taille (125 nm) que les pores nucléaires (30 à 50 nm), ils quittent le noyau par une voie inhabituelle appelée sortie nucléaire. Notre laboratoire a précédemment découvert que le HSV-1 incorpore 49 protéines hôtes distinctes, dont DDX3X, une hélicase à ARN de type DEAD (Asp-Glu-Ala-Asp) dépendante de l'ATP qui module l'expression génique des virus à ADN et à ARN. DDX3X est redirigé vers la membrane nucléaire interne à la fin de l'infection et interagit avec pUL31, un composant du complexe de sortie nucléaire viral, pour favoriser la sortie nucléaire des capsides virales vers le cytoplasme. Cependant, la nature exacte de ces interactions reste incertaine. D'autre part, notre laboratoire a également signalé que PCBP1 est spécifiquement présent sur les capsides C et que sa déplétion entraîne une réduction du titre viral. PCBP1 est connu pour se lier à l'ARN poly (c) via les domaines d'homologie K (KH) et joue un rôle dans la stabilisation de l'ARNm, le contrôle transcriptionnel, la traduction de l'ARN, l'immunité antivirale et la modulation de la propagation virale. À l'aide de microscopie confocale et d'études de co-immunoprécipitation, le présent travail révèle que DDX3X interagit avec les deux composants du complexe de sortie nucléaire, à savoir pUL31 et pUL34, et que cette interaction est indépendante de leur phosphorylation par la kinase pUS3 qui module normalement leur localisation. De plus, nous montrons également que DDX3X interagit avec PCBP1, ce qui pourrait expliquer la sélection préférentielle des capsides C lors de la sortie nucléaire. Cette étude constitue un pas en avant dans la cartographie des interactions complexes entre protéines hôtes multiples et partenaires viraux et pour élucider leur rôle possible dans l’évasion sélective énigmatique des capsides C du HSV-1.

Lors de l'infection par le virus herpès simplex de type 1 (VHS-1), quatre types de capsides nucléaires sont créés : les procapsides et les capsides A, B, et C. Sur les quatre capsides, seules les capsides C contiennent de l'ADN viral et deviendront des particules infectieuses. Un niveau de régulation se produit lors de la sortie du noyau qui favorise la sortie d’es capsides C du noyau. Le mécanisme qui sous-tend ce phénomène est actuellement inconnu. Les recherches actuelles suggèrent que l'interaction entre la protéine virale pUL25 modifie la conformation de la couche hexamérique plane du complexe de sortie nucléaire (NEC) pour y introduire des pentamères et donc causer un arrondissement de la membrane et le bourgeonnement des capsides. Cependant, des questions subsistent quant à la manière dont les capsides A, B et C sont différenciées au sein du noyau pour assurer une sortie spécifique de la capside C puisque pUL25 se retrouve dans tous les types de capsides. Nous étudions ici comment les protéines de l'hôte peuvent agir dans la sortie nucléaire des capsides C. En se basant sur une étude précédente du laboratoire où la protéine hôte poly(C)-binding protein 1 (PCBP1) a été trouvée spécifiquement sur les capsides C par spectrométrie de masse, nous explorons le rôle de la PCBP1 dans l'infection par le VHS-1. À l'aide d’essaies de plaques, nous montrons que la PCBP1 est importante pour l'infection virale, car en son absence, les titres diminuent et lorsque la PCBP1 est sur-exprimée, les titres augmentent. Ce résultat ne semble pas être dû au fait que les PCBP1 affectent l'expression génique de sous-ensembles de gènes viraux immédiats précoces, précoces ou tardifs, ni qu'ils affectent la réplication du génome ou son encapsidation. La réduction des PCBP1 ne provoque pas d'accumulation de capsides ou de particules matures tel qu’évalué par la microscopie électronique, mais elle augmente le nombre de capsides B enveloppées dans l'espace périnucléaire (PNS). L'inhibition de PCBP1 diminue également le niveau de protéine pUL24, une protéine virale importante pour la sortie du virus du noyau. Nos résultats démontrent que la PCBP1 pourrait réguler l’activité de pUL24, de sorte que lorsque la PCBP1 est épuisée, pUL24 permet à plus de capsides B de se rendre dans l'espace périnucléaire. Cette recherche constitue un point de départ pour une analyse plus approfondie du mécanisme exact des PCBP1 dans les infections à HSV-1. En outre, elle pourrait fournir des indices importants pour élucider comment le pUL24 favorise la sortie du nucléaire. / During herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection, four types of nuclear capsids are made: procapsids and A-, B- and C-capsids. Of the four capsids, only C-capsids contain the viral DNA and will become infectious progeny. A level of regulation occurs during nuclear egress that ensures only C-capsids exit the nucleus. The mechanism that underlies this phenomenon is presently unknown. Current research suggests the viral protein pUL25 alters the conformation of the viral nuclear egress complex (NEC) that forms a flat hexameric coat on nuclear membranes by the introduction of pentamers and therefore the induction of membrane rounding and viral budding. However, questions remain for how A-, B-, and C-capsids are differentiated within the nucleus to ensure C-capsid specific egress since pUL25 is found on all capsid types. Here we investigate how host proteins may play a role in nuclear egress of C-capsids. Based on the lab’s previous study where host protein poly(C)-binding protein 1 (PCBP1) was found specifically on C-capsids via mass spectrometry, we explore the role of PCBP1 in HSV-1 infection. Using plaque assays we show that PCBP-1 is important for viral infection, as in its absence titers decrease and when PCBP1 is over expressed titers increase. This result does not seem to be due to PCBP1 affecting gene expression of immediate early, early, or late viral gene subsets, nor does it seem to affect genome replication or encapsidation. PCBP1 knockdown does not cause an accumulation of capsids or mature particles as assessed by electron microscopy, but it does increase the number of enveloped B-capsids observed in the perinuclear space (PNS). Depletion of PCBP1 also decreases the level of pUL24, a viral protein implicated in viral nuclear egress. Our results suggest that PCBP1 could be regulating pUL24 for proper activity in nuclear egress, such that when PCBP1 is depleted, more B-capsids are able to bud through the PNS. This research constitutes a starting point for further analysis into the exact mechanism of PCBP1 in HSV-1 infections. In addition, it may provide important clues to elucidate how pUL24 supports nuclear egress.