Atomic structure of the human cytomegalovirus capsid with its securing tegument layer of pp150

Strong under pressure Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a member of the herpesvirus family that can cause life-threatening infections in those who are immunocompromised. HCMV encodes a genome that is about 50% larger than that of herpes simplex virus 1 (the virus that causes cold sores), but these two viruses have similar-sized capsids. Yu et al. used cryo–electron microscopy to determine the structure of the HCMV capsid to 3.9-Å resolution. This is the first high-resolution capsid structure from the herpesvirus family. It reveals extensive interactions that stabilize the capsid to withstand the high pressure that comes from accommodating such a large genome. Science, this issue p. eaam6892 A structure of human cytomegalovirus shows how the capsid withstands the pressure of containing the largest herpesvirus genome. INTRODUCTION Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a leading cause of congenital defects and a major contributor to life-threatening complications in immunocompromised individuals. HCMV is a β-herpesvirus that more broadly belongs to Herpesviridae, whose members have long been in lockstep with humanity, responsible for ailments from chickenpox (varicella zoster virus, VZV) to the common cold sore (herpes simplex virus 1, HSV-1). Yet HCMV’s ability to establish relatively nontoxic lifelong latency in hosts, its high seroprevalence in human populations, and its large genetic capacity are characteristics shared among herpesviruses that give them desirable advantages over other viral candidates as tools in the development of gene delivery vehicles, oncolytic vectors, and vaccines against not just herpesviruses, but even HIV/AIDS. RATIONALE All human herpesviruses have a highly pressured nucleocapsid (up to tens of atmospheres) thanks to a large genome that packs tightly within a space-constrained capsid. HCMV’s 235-kb genome is by far the largest of any human herpesvirus at twice the size of VZV’s and >50% larger than HSV-1’s, although HCMV has a capsid that is similar in size to those of other herpesviruses. Previous evidence has suggested that the β-herpesvirus–specific tegument protein pp150 contributes to a netlike layer that may stabilize the HCMV capsid, but in the absence of an atomic description of HCMV particles, the exact mechanisms through which capsid stability is achieved have remained unclear. Despite recent advances in high-resolution studies of macromolecular complexes, an atomic structure of a herpesvirus has proved elusive because of the immense challenges posed by their size (more than 2000 Å in diameter) and the associated fragility of such large assemblies. RESULTS By using an improved sample preparation strategy and electron-counting cryo–electron microscopy, we obtained a three-dimensional reconstruction of HCMV at 3.9-Å resolution and derived an atomic structure for the herpesvirus-conserved capsid proteins MCP, Tri1, Tri2, and SCP and the HCMV-specific tegument protein pp150, totaling ~4000 molecules and 62 different conformers. MCPs manifest as a complex of domain insertions around a bacteriophage HK97 gp5–like “Johnson fold” domain, which gives rise to three classes of capsid floor–defining interactions beneath hexons and analogous, though less substantial, interactions beneath pentons. Triplexes, composed of two “embracing” Tri2 conformers and a “third-wheeling” Tri1, fasten the capsid floor. Whereas these stabilization mechanisms are likely conserved across herpesviruses, our structure also reveals HCMV-specific capsid stabilization strategies, including hexon channels that facilitate the packing of DNA and pp150 helix bundles that secure the capsid through a critical cysteine tetrad interaction with SCP, the smallest and least conserved capsid protein across Herpesviridae. CONCLUSION With an exceptionally large genome and high internal capsid pressure, HCMV achieves capsid stability through an extreme form of structural elaboration on a basic Johnson fold topology, relying on not only domain insertions into the major capsid protein and the inclusion of auxiliary heterotrimers, but also the recruitment of a tegumental layer of pp150 to secure its DNA-engorged capsid from without. Beyond providing an organizational blueprint to understand all other herpesviruses, our HCMV atomic structure should inform rational design of therapeutic strategies against HCMV, other herpesviruses, and, in light of recent findings in simian models, potentially HIV/AIDS. A 3.9-Å structure of human cytomegalovirus. One of the 60 asymmetric units that make up HCMV’s 1320-Å-wide capsid is rendered above a colored face of the icosahedral shell. Atomic models of the capsid proteins (SCP, MCP, Tri1, Tri2A, and Tri2B) and capsid-associated pp150 tegument protein (“nt” signifies the N-terminal one-third) reveal a suite of strategies that work in a synergistic manner to stabilize a capsid that is highly pressurized by HCMV’s enormous 235-kb genome. P, peripentonal; C, center; E, edge; Ta to Te, heterotrimeric triplexes composed of Tri1, Tri2A, and Tri2B. Herpesviruses possess a genome-pressurized capsid. The 235-kilobase genome of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is by far the largest of any herpesvirus, yet it has been unclear how its capsid, which is similar in size to those of other herpesviruses, is stabilized. Here we report a HCMV atomic structure consisting of the herpesvirus-conserved capsid proteins MCP, Tri1, Tri2, and SCP and the HCMV-specific tegument protein pp150—totaling ~4000 molecules and 62 different conformers. MCPs manifest as a complex of insertions around a bacteriophage HK97 gp5–like domain, which gives rise to three classes of capsid floor–defining interactions; triplexes, composed of two “embracing” Tri2 conformers and a “third-wheeling” Tri1, fasten the capsid floor. HCMV-specific strategies include using hexon channels to accommodate the genome and pp150 helix bundles to secure the capsid via cysteine tetrad–to-SCP interactions. Our structure should inform rational design of countermeasures against HCMV, other herpesviruses, and even HIV/AIDS.