VARICELLA-ZOSTER VIRUS GLYCOPROTEIN GE - ENDOCYTOSIS AND TRAFFICKING OF THE FC RECEPTOR

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) encodes a functional cell membrane Fc rec eptor called glycoprotein gE. VZV gE resembles other mammalian cell me mbrane receptors, such as the mammalian Fc receptor. In further analys es by transient transfection, the cellular trafficking of VZV gE was c ompared to other cell surface receptors. VZV gE was shown to undergo e ndocytosis from the cell membrane when visualized by laser scanning co nfocal microscopy. The endocytosis and trafficking pathway of VZV gE f ollowed closely the pathway defined for the human transferrin receptor . Receptor-mediated endocytosis of VZV gE was dependent on a YAGL moti f in its cytoplasmic tail. In addition, VZV gE underwent receptor-medi ated endocytosis when it bound the Fc portion of immunoglobulin. Thus, this detailed study of VZV gE cellular trafficking has revealed poten tial roles for gE during viral infection.