Role of the cytoplasmic tail of gE in antibody-induced redistribution of viral glycoproteins expressed on pseudorabies-virus-infected cells

Pseudorabies virus (PrV) glycoprotein gE is a nonessential glycoprotein involved in virulence and spread of the virus. It also has an important, yet unknown, function during antibody-induced capping of viral glycoproteins on the plasma membrane of PrV-infected swine kidney cells. In the present study, it was shown, by the use of a PrV strain expressing a truncated gE glycoprotein, that the cytoplasmic tail of gE is of significant importance for viral glycoprotein capping to occur. In addition, using PrV strains carrying point mutations in the cytoplasmic tail of gE, it was demonstrated that two tyrosine-based motifs are very important for correct functioning of gE during viral glycoprotein capping. Furthermore it was shown that genistein and tyrphostin, two tyrosine kinase activity inhibitors, inhibit viral glycoprotein capping in a concentration-dependent manner. In conclusion, it can be stated that efficient antibody-induced viral glycoprotein capping requires the presence of two YxxL sequences in the cytoplasmic tail of glycoprotein gE, as well as the activation of a tyrosine phosphorylation signal transduction pathway. (C) 1999 Academic Press.