Atomic structure of the human herpesvirus 6B capsid and capsid-associated tegument complexes

Nat Commun. 2019 Nov 25;10(1):5346. doi: 10.1038/s41467-019-13064-x.

Abstract

Human herpesvirus 6B (HHV-6B) belongs to the β-herpesvirus subfamily of the Herpesviridae. To understand capsid assembly and capsid-tegument interactions, here we report atomic structures of HHV-6B capsid and capsid-associated tegument complex (CATC) obtained by cryoEM and sub-particle reconstruction. Compared to other β-herpesviruses, HHV-6B exhibits high similarity in capsid structure but organizational differences in its CATC (pU11 tetramer). 180 "VΛ"-shaped CATCs are observed in HHV-6B, distinguishing from the 255 "Λ"-shaped dimeric CATCs observed in murine cytomegalovirus and the 310 "Δ"-shaped CATCs in human cytomegalovirus. This trend in CATC quantity correlates with the increasing genomes sizes of these β-herpesviruses. Incompatible distances revealed by the atomic structures rationalize the lack of CATC's binding to triplexes Ta, Tc, and Tf in HHV-6B. Our results offer insights into HHV-6B capsid assembly and the roles of its tegument proteins, including not only the β-herpesvirus-specific pU11 and pU14, but also those conserved across all subfamilies of Herpesviridae.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Capsid / metabolism*
  • Capsid / ultrastructure
  • Capsid Proteins / genetics
  • Capsid Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cryoelectron Microscopy
  • Genome, Viral / genetics
  • Herpesvirus 6, Human / genetics
  • Herpesvirus 6, Human / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Multiprotein Complexes / genetics
  • Multiprotein Complexes / metabolism
  • Multiprotein Complexes / ultrastructure
  • Protein Binding
  • Roseolovirus Infections / virology
  • Viral Matrix Proteins / genetics
  • Viral Matrix Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Capsid Proteins
  • Multiprotein Complexes
  • Viral Matrix Proteins