Structure of a herpesvirus nuclear egress complex subunit reveals an interaction groove that is essential for viral replication

Herpesviruses require a nuclear egress complex (NEC) for efficient transit of nucleocapsids from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. The NEC orchestrates multiple steps during herpesvirus nuclear egress, including disruption of nuclear lamina and particle budding through the inner nuclear membrane. In the important human pathogen human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), this complex consists of nuclear membrane protein UL50, and nucleoplasmic protein UL53, which is recruited to the nuclear membrane through its interaction with UL50. Here, we present an NMR-determined solution-state structure of the murine CMV homolog of UL50 (M50; residues 1–168) with a strikingly intricate protein fold that is matched by no other known protein folds in its entirety. Using NMR methods, we mapped the interaction of M50 with a highly conserved UL53-derived peptide, corresponding to a segment that is required for heterodimerization. The UL53 peptide binding site mapped onto an M50 surface groove, which harbors a large cavity. Point mutations of UL50 residues corresponding to surface residues in the characterized M50 heterodimerization interface substantially decreased UL50–UL53 binding in vitro, eliminated UL50–UL53 colocalization, prevented disruption of nuclear lamina, and halted productive virus replication in HCMV-infected cells. Our results provide detailed structural information on a key protein–protein interaction involved in nuclear egress and suggest that NEC subunit interactions can be an attractive drug target.Herpesviruses encompass a large family of infectious agents, including important veterinary and human pathogens (1). Among the latter is human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), which can cause serious disease, particularly in immunocompromised individuals and newborns (2). Despite the importance of HCMV in these medically vulnerable populations, currently available treatment options suffer from issues with toxicities, drug resistance, and/or pharmacokinetics (2, 3), motivating the identification of new drug targets.All herpesviruses of mammals, birds, and reptiles undergo a remarkable process known as nuclear egress as part of the viral lifecycle. It is generally accepted that, after assembly in the nucleus, the viral nucleocapsid undergoes envelopment to cross the inner nuclear membrane (INM) followed by deenvelopment to cross the outer nuclear membrane, resulting in release into the cytoplasm for continuation of the virion maturation process (4). Nuclear egress is orchestrated by a highly conserved, heterodimeric nuclear egress complex (NEC), which recruits one or more protein kinases to disrupt the nuclear lamina, permitting access of nucleocapsids to the INM, where the NEC induces budding of the nucleocapsid into the perinuclear space (5–13). In HCMV, the NEC is comprised of UL50, which is an INM protein, and UL53, which is a nucleoplasmic protein that is brought to the INM by its interaction with UL50. These two proteins and their murine CMV (MCMV) homologues, M50 and M53, are essential for replication and nuclear egress (8, 14–17) of their respective viruses. Although a process similar to herpesvirus nuclear egress was recently described for movement of ribonucleoprotein particles during Drosophila myogenesis (18), no host cell homolog of the NEC that would serve as mediator of this mechanism has yet been identified. Furthermore, no structural information currently exists for any NEC subunit across the Herpesviridae family.To gain a better molecular understanding of herpesvirus nuclear egress, we used NMR methods to solve the structure of the conserved half of MCMV M50 and map residues on the surface of M50 that are involved in interactions with the other NEC subunit. We then tested the importance of several of these residues for heterodimerization of both the MCMV and HCMV NECs by looking at the effect of single-alanine mutations in both M50 and UL50 on binding affinity and replication of HCMV by looking at the effect of mutations in the context of NEC localization, nuclear lamina disruption, and virus production. Our results identified a subunit interaction interface with features that suggest that it could be an attractive antiviral drug target.