Pseudo Rabies Virus Protein UL34 Interacted with UL31 to Disrupt the Human Lamin A

Pseudo rabies virus (PRV) egresses from the nucleus by budding from the inner nuclear membrane (INM). The nuclear lamina forms a rigid meshwork of intermediate filaments underlying the INM. It remains unknown whether PRV infection induces the disruption of lamina. In this paper, it can be observed that nuclear Lamin A became fractured during PRV infection. UL34 was localized at the nuclear rim, but UL31 was accumulated in the nucleus as distinct patches. Interestingly, a part of UL31 was localized at the INM in the presence of UL34. Immunoprecipitation (IP) assay confirmed that PRV UL31 and UL34 interacted in the transfected cells. Importantly, the co-expression of UL31 and UL34 directly disrupted Lamin A, resembling that observed during PRV infection. In conclusion, PRV infection induces the disruption of Lamin A, and UL34 and UL31 play a critical role in the disruption of Lamin A.