Characterization by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis of host proteins whose synthesis is sustained or stimulated during the course of herpes simplex virus type 1 infection

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) gene expression is concomitant with a s elective shutoff of host protein synthesis. While the synthesis of the vast majority of cellular proteins is inhibited immediately after infection, se veral cellular proteins continue to be synthesized, even during the late ph ase of infection. Because these cellular proteins may intervene in the life cycle of the virus, we undertook two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electr ophoresis (2-D PAGE) analyses to evaluate the proportion of cellular protei ns that is represented by these particular proteins. Human cells were infec ted with HSV-1. At different times after infection, proteins were labeled w ith S-35 just prior to harvesting. The rate of synthesis of a set of 183 ac idic host proteins, as well as that of ribosomal proteins, was measured dur ing the course of infection, after separation by 2-D PAGE. As expected, HSV -1 induces a strong inhibition of host protein synthesis immediately after infection. However, the synthesis of basic ribosomal proteins and that of a n unexpected high proportion of the sub-set of cellular proteins analyzed i s sustained or stimulated during HSV-1 infection. A 2-D PAGE analysis outli ning the expression patterns of these proteins at different times of infect ion is presented.