Morphogenesis of Nuclear Inclusions and Virus Capsids in HEL Cells Infected with Temperature-sensitive Mutants of Human Cytomegalovirus

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Abstract
The morphogenesis of nuclear inclusions and virus capsids in human embryonic lung [HEL] cells infected with ts mutants of human cytomegalovirus at permissive (34.degree. C) and non-permissive (39.degree. C) temperatures was studied by indirect immunofluorescence (IF) and EM analyses and compared with the morphogenesis of these structures in wild-type virus infection with or without phosphonoacetate. Mutants tested belonged to 5 different complementation groups: 2 groups were DNA- (those unable to synthesize virus DNA at 39.degree. C) and the others were DNA+. Based on the previous finding that the electron-dense, reticular nuclear inclusions (EM-NI) observed by the thin-section analysis correspond with nuclear inclusions (IF-NI) detected by the indirect IF staining (i.e., they occupy the same space in the nucleus), the following conclusions were obtained in ts mutant infection at 39.degree. C: the formation of EM-NI, IF-NI and virus capsids requires replication of virus DNA. The formation of EM-NI is not necessarily accompanied by the formation of IF-NI; EM-NI itself is not IF-positive unless it acquires virus-specific late antigens. The assembly of virus capsids occurs only in those cells in which EM-NI is formed, but it can occur without the formation of IF-NI. Virus capsids assembled are not the major antigens responsible for the fluorescence of nuclear inclusions.

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