HHV Capsid Portal Protein, or HSV-1 UL-6 protein, is the protein which forms a cylindrical portal in the capsid of Herpes simplex virus (HSV-1). The protein is commonly referred to as the HSV-1 UL-6 protein because it is the transcription product of Herpes gene UL-6.
The Herpes viral DNA enters and exits the capsid via the capsid portal. The capsid portal is formed by twelve copies of portal protein arranged as a ring; the proteins contain a leucine zipper sequence of amino acids which allow them to adhere to each other.[1] Each icosahedral capsid contains a single portal, located in one vertex.[2][3]
The portal is formed during initial capsid assembly and interacts with scaffolding proteins that construct the procapsid.[4][5][6] When the capsid is nearly complete, the viral DNA enters the capsid (i.e., the DNA is encapsidated) by a mechanism involving the portal and a DNA-binding protein complex similar to bacteriophageterminase.[7] Multiple studies suggest an evolutionary relationship between Capsid Portal Protein and bacteriophage portal proteins.[2][7]
When a virus infects a cell, it is necessary for the viral DNA to be released from the capsid. The Herpes virus DNA exits through the capsid portal.[8]
The genetic sequence of HSV-1 gene UL-6 is conserved across the family Herpesviridae and this family of genes is known as the "Herpesvirus UL6-like" gene family.[9] "UL-6" is nomenclature meaning that the protein is genetically encoded by the sixth (6th) open reading frame found in the viral genome segment named "Unique-Long (UL)".