Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) ORF65 virion protein is dispensable for replication in cell culture and is phosphorylated by casein kinase II, but not by the VZV protein kinases

The unique short region of varicella tester virus (VZV) encodes four genes. One of these, ORF65, is predicted to encode an 11-kDa protein. Antibody to ORF65 protein immunoprecipitated a 16-kDa protein from the membrane fracti on of VZV-infected cells. ORF65 protein was shown to be phosphorylated by c asein kinase II. The VN ORF47 or ORF66 protein kinases were not required fo r phosphorylation of ORF65. VN with a large deletion in ORF65 was construct ed and was shown to be dispensable for replication of virus in cell culture . The herpes simplex virus homolog of VZV ORF65 has been reported to be loc ated in the nucleus of infected calls and in virions as a tegument protein, whereas the pseudorabies virus homolog is located in the Golgi apparatus o f infected cells and in virions as a type II membrane protein. The ORF65 pr otein localized to the Golgi apparatus in virus-infected cells and was loca ted in virions, most likely as a type II membrane protein. Thus, VN ORF65 m ore closely resembles its pseudorabies virus homolog in its localization in infected cells and virions.