Early, Active, and Specific Localization of Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 gM to Nuclear Membranes

Thirteen different glycoproteins are incorporated into mature herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) virions. Five of them play important roles during entry, while others intervene during egress of the virus. Although HSV-1 gM is not essential in cell culture, its deletion reduces viral yields and promotes syncytium formation. Furthermore, gM is conserved among herpesviruses, is essential for several of them, and can redirect the gD and gH/gL viral glycoproteins from the cell surface to thetrans -Golgi network, where gM presumably modulates final capsid envelopment. Late in infection, gM reaches the nuclear envelope and decorates perinuclear virions. This process seemingly requires UL 31 and UL 34 and occurs when several markers of thetrans -Golgi network have relocalized to the nucleus. However, the precise mechanism of gM nuclear targeting is unclear. We now report that gM is quickly and specifically targeted to nuclear membranes in a virus-dependent manner. This occurs prior to the HSV-1-induced reorganization of thetrans -Golgi network and before gM enters the secretory pathway. The presence of a high-mannose glycosylation pattern on gM further corroborated these findings. While gM was targeted to the inner nuclear membrane early in infection, its partners gD, gH, gN, VP22, UL 31, and UL 34 did not colocalize with gM. These data suggest that nuclear gM fulfills an early nuclear function that is independent of its known interaction partners and its function in viral egress.