AUTHOR=Liu Xiaolan , Wang Mingshu , Cheng Anchun , Yang Qiao , Tian Bin , Ou Xumin , Sun Di , He Yu , Wu Zhen , Zhao Xinxin , Wu Ying , Zhang Shaqiu , Huang Juan , Jia Renyong , Chen Shun , Liu Mafeng , Zhu Dekang TITLE=Functions of the UL51 protein during the herpesvirus life cycle JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology VOLUME=15 YEAR=2024 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2024.1457582 DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2024.1457582 ISSN=1664-302X ABSTRACT=

The herpesvirus UL51 protein is a multifunctional tegument protein involved in the regulation of multiple aspects of the viral life cycle. This article reviews the biological characteristics of the UL51 protein and its functions in herpesviruses, including participating in the maintenance of the viral assembly complex (cVAC) during viral assembly, affecting the production of mature viral particles and promoting primary and secondary envelopment, as well as its positive impact on viral cell-to-cell spread (CCS) through interactions with multiple viral proteins and its key role in the proliferation and pathogenicity of the virus in the later stage of infection. This paper discusses how the UL51 protein participates in the life cycle of herpesviruses and provides new ideas for further research on UL51 protein function.