New Drug Target for Herpesvirus Treatment

Viruses, Vol. 11, Pages 219: Terminase Large Subunit Provides a New Drug Target for Herpesvirus Treatment:

Viruses, Vol. 11, Pages 219: Terminase Large Subunit Provides a New Drug Target for Herpesvirus Treatment

Viruses doi: 10.3390/v11030219

Authors:
Linlin Yang
Qiao Yang
Mingshu Wang
Renyong Jia
Shun Chen
Dekang Zhu
Mafeng Liu
Ying Wu
Xinxin Zhao
Shaqiu Zhang
Yunya Liu
Yanling Yu
Ling Zhang
Xiaoyue Chen
Anchun Cheng


Herpesvirus infection is an orderly, regulated process. Among these viruses, the encapsidation of viral DNA is a noteworthy link; the entire process requires a powered motor that binds to viral DNA and carries it into the preformed capsid. Studies have shown that this power motor is a complex composed of a large subunit, a small subunit, and a third subunit, which are collectively known as terminase. The terminase large subunit is highly conserved in herpesvirus. It mainly includes two domains: the C-terminal nuclease domain, which cuts the viral concatemeric DNA into a monomeric genome, and the N-terminal ATPase domain, which hydrolyzes ATP to provide energy for the genome cutting and transfer activities. Because this process is not present in eukaryotic cells, it provides a reliable theoretical basis for the development of safe and effective anti-herpesvirus drugs. This article reviews the genetic characteristics, protein structure, and function of the herpesvirus terminase large subunit, as well as the antiviral drugs that target the terminase large subunit. We hope to provide a theoretical basis for the prevention and treatment of herpesvirus.