HERPES VIRUS PROTEINASE AND METHOD OF ASSAYING

Abstract: A herpes virus proteinase has been found to be encoded by a member of a family of four nested genes in simian cytomegalovirus. Another member of the nested genes encodes the assembly protein precursor, which is a substrate for the proteinase. Homologous genes are found in other herpes viruses. Cleavage sites recognized by the proteinase are identified in cytomegalovirus and are found to be highly conserved in other herpes viruses. Substrates, inhibitors, assay kits, and methods of assaying are provided which rely on the proteinase and its activity.

Description: HERPES VIRUS PROTEINASE AND METHOD OF ASSAYING This is a continuation-in-part of application Serial No. 725,308, filed July 5, 1991. This invention was supported under NIH Research Grants R01 AI22711 and R01 AI13718. The United States Government retains certain rights in this invention. TECHNICAL AREA OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to the area of herpes virology. More particularly, it relates to a new enzyme and the use of that enzyme as a target for anti-viral therapy. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Herpes viruses are large double stranded DNA viruses that are responsible for a number of human diseases including chicken pox, shingles, fever blisters, salivary gland virus disease, and infectious mononucleosis. The seven human herpes viruses that have been described thus far are HSV-1, HSV-2, cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV), varicella zoster virus (VZV), HHV-6, and HHV-7. Maturation of herpes virus particles is believed to occur through the formation of a procapsid structure, which acquires DNA and an envelope to become an infectious virion. A herpes virus group-common protein referred to as the assembly protein in CMV, and as p40, VP22a, NCP-3, and ICP35e in HSV-1, is an abundant constituent of the herpes virus procapsid. The assembly protein is phosphorylated and proteolytically processed from a precursor molecule. It is absent from the mature virion, although its fate is unknown. These characteristics of the assembly protein have suggested an analogy between it and the bacteriophage scaffolding protein, which is an essential component for phage assembly but is not found in mature virus particles (Gibson et al. (1991) J. Virol. 64: 1241-1249). The proteolytic processing of the assembly protein has been implicated as a critical step in the maturation of the virus. A temperature sensitive (ts) mutant that is unable to process the HSV assembly protein homolog (p40) is incapable of producing DNA-containing capsids or virions (Preston et al. (1983) J. Virol. 45:1056- 1064). Maturational processing of the simian CMV (SCMV) Colburn assembly protein results in loss of its carboxy terminus. (Gibson, 1991, supra.. Up until the present time the enzyme responsible for the proteolytic maturation of the assembly protein has not been identified. Further, there is a need in the art for new agents for therapeutic treatment of herpes viruses. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to provide a preparation of a proteinase encoded by a herpes virus. It is another object of the invention to provide a substrate for cleavage by a herpes virus proteinase. It is yet another object of the invention to provide a kit for measuring activity of a herpes virus proteinase. It is still another object of the invention to provide a method for measuring activity of a herpes virus proteinase. It is another object of the invention to provide a recombinant DNA molecule which encodes a herpes virus proteinase. It is yet another object of the invention to provide an inhibitor of a herpes virus proteinase. These and other objects of the invention are provided by one or more of the embodiments described below. In one embodiment of the invention a preparation of the proteinase encoded by a herpes virus is provided, said preparation being free of a intact infectious herpes virus virion DNA. In another embodiment of the invention substrates for cleavage by a herpes virus proteinase are provided. One substrate comprises a polypeptide containing the amino acid sequence: aaι-aa 2 -Ala-aa 3 , wherein aai is Val or Leu, aa 2 is a polar amino acid, and aa 3 is Ser, Val, or Asn, wherein the proteinase cleaves the substrate on the carboxy terminal side of the Ala residue. Another substrate comprises a polypeptide containing the amino acid sequence: Tyr-aa -aa 5 -Ala-aa 6 , wherein aa is Val or Leu, aa 5 is Lys or Gin and a β is Ser or Asn, and wherein the proteinase cleaves the substrate on the carboxy terminal side of the Ala residue. In yet another embodiment of the invention a kit is provided for measuring activity of a herpes virus proteinase. The kit comprises a proteinase encoded by a herpes virus, and a substrate for cleavage by said proteinase. The substrate comprises a polypeptide containing the amino acid sequence: wherein aaj is Val or Leu, aa 2 is a polar amino acid, aa 3 is Ser, Val, or Asn, a 4 is Val or Leu, aa 5 is Lys or Gin and a β is Ser or Asn, wherein the proteinase cleaves the substrate on the carboxy terminal side of the Ala residue, said kit being substantially free of intact infectious herpes virus. In still another embodiment of the invention a method is provided for measuring activity of a herpes virus proteinase. The method comprises the steps of: contacting a proteinase encoded by a herpes virus with a substrate for cleavage by said proteinase, said substrate comprising a polypeptide containing the amino acid sequence; aa,-aa 2 -Ala-aa 3 or Tyr-aa 4 -aa 5 -Ala-aa 6 , wherein aaj is Val or Leu, aa 2 is a polar amino acid, aa 3 is Ser, Val, or Asn, aa^ is Val or Leu, aa 5 is Lys or Gin and a <5 is Ser or Asn, wherein the proteinase cleaves the substrate on the carboxy terminal side of the Ala residue, said step of contacting occurring in the absence of an intact infectious herpes virus virion DNA; and monitoring cleavage of said substrate. In another embodiment of the invention a recombinant DNA molecule is provided which encodes at least a portion of the herpes virus proteinase, said protein having the ability to cleave a herpes virus assembly protein precursor. In yet another embodiment of the invention an inhibitor of a herpes virus proteinase is provided. The inhibitor, comprises a derivative of the substrate of the herpes virus proteinase. The inhibitor may differ from the substrate in the scissile peptide bond which is carboxyl to the Ala residue. These, and other embodiments of the invention which will be obvious to one skilled in the art from the disclosure, are described in more detail below. These embodiments provide the art with a promising target for specific anti-viral therapeutic agents, which can be administered to humans and other animals without also impairing normal cellular functions. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 shows the nucleotide and predicted amino acid sequences of the CMV Colbum genomic region containing the assembly protein gene at the 3 'end of a 1 ,770- base pair open reading frame. The open reading frame, designated APNG1, denotes the beginning of the coding sequence of the proteinase gene, and the open reading frame designating APNG.5 denotes the beginning of the coding sequence of the precursor assembly protein gene. Each of the four designated open reading frames are in frame and are 3 'co-terminal. Figure 2 shows a comparison of portions of the putative active site domains of the proteinase in CMV Colburn, located between amino acids 15 and 195 and those in other herpes viruses. Two highly conserved motifs within this region are also identified in human CMV (HCMV), herpes simplex virus- 1 (HSV-1), varicella zoster virus (VZV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and infectious laryngotracheitis virus (ILTV). The absolutely conserved amino acids are shown in bold type. Figure 3A shows the cleavage site in the assembly protein of SCMV located between amino acids Ala 5j7 and Ser 5J8 . This region is shown as compared to homologous and conserved regions in other herpes viruses. Absolutely conserved amino acids are shown in bold type. The arrow in the sequence denotes the cleavage site. Figure 3B shows the cleavage site for release of the herpesvirus proteinase from the primary translation product of the APNG1 gene is located in six herpes viruses between amino acids 234 and 262. Absolutely conserved amino acids are shown in bold type. The space following the alanine residue denotes the cleavage site. Figure 4 shows products of an in vitro transcription and translation of the cloned CMV Colburn assembly protein gene (APNG.5) as well as the cloned proteinase gene (APNG1). Proteins are revealed by their reactivity with antibodies (i.e., Anti-C-1) reactive only with noncleaved assembly protein nested gene products. Figure 5 shows that assembly protein cleavage occurs in cells cotransfected with the genes for the assembly protein precursor (APNG.5/AW1) and for the proteinase (APNG1/AW4). DETAILED DESCRIPTION It is a finding of the present invention that the assembly protein of herpes viruses is maturationally processed by a herpes virus-encoded proteinase. Fascinatingly, the proteinase has been found to be a member of a family of four nested 3 'co-terminal genes which includes the assembly protein itself. Each of the genes appears to be transcribed into separate mRNAs. It appears that proteolytic cleavages may occur in this family of gene products at a number of locations. One such location, which has been identified with certainty, is the cleavage site within the assembly protein precursor itself. This site occurs between the alanine at amino acid position 557 and the serine at amino acid position 558 in the CMV Colbum APNG1 gene product. [Amino acid numbering in this application begins with the first putative initiation codon of APNGl shown in Figure 1 as the first underlined methionine codon.] The cleavage site in herpes virus assembly protein precursors have the conserved motif of aaι-aa 2 -Ala-aa 3 , wherein aa, is Val or Leu, aa 2 is a polar amino acid, and aa 3 is Ser, Val, or Asn. This cleavage site is herein referred to as the assembly protein maturation cleavage site. Another putative cleavage site within this family of nested proteins occurs after the Ala residue of the sequence Tyr-Val-Lys-Ala, which occurs at amino acids 246 to 249 in the CMV Colbum APNGl gene product. This site has been used as the carboxy terminus of a recombinant construct, and the construct has been found to have proteinase activity. This suggests that this site may be used in vivo for autoprocessing of the proteinase molecule. The cleavage site in the primary translation product of the gene encoding for herpes virus proteinase have the conserved motif of Tyr-aa -aa 5 -Ala-aa 6 , wherein aa 4 is Val or Leu, aa 5 is Lys or Gin and aa «s is Ser or Asn. This cleavage site is herein referred to as the enzyme release cleavage site. Both the maturation cleavage site and the enzyme release cleavage site in SCMV are highly conserved among herpes viruses as shown in Figures 3A and 3B. SEQ ID NOS 3-9 show the maturational cleavage site, located between numbered amino acids 11 and 12 in the assembly protein of CMV Colbum, HCMV, HSV-1, VZV, EBV, ILTV and HSV-6, respectively. SEQ ID NOS 10-15 show the enzyme release cleavage site located between numbered amino acid 10 and 11 , for the release of the herpesvirus proteinase of CMV Colbum, HCMV, HSV-1, VZV, EBV and ILTV, respectively. According to the present invention a preparation of proteinase encoded by a herpes virus is provided. The preparation is substantially free of intact infectious herpes vims virion DNA. Virion DNA refers to the DNA which is present in viral particles. Preparations of the present invention can be provided which are totally free of virion DNA because they are produced in cells which have been transfected with a recombinant construct encoding the proteinase. Thus cells producing the proteinase may not ever have been infected with herpes vims. The herpes vims proteinase from cytomegalovirus (CMV, simian strain Colbum) is encoded by a 1 ,770 base pair gene referred to APNGl (assembly protein nested gene 1). The nucleotide and amino acid sequence of this gene is shown in SEQ ID NO 1. SEQ ID NO 2 shows only the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO 1. This gene has homologs in human CMV (HCMV, i.e., UL80a), herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1, i.e., UL26), varicella zoster vims (VZV, i.e., UL33), Epstein-Barr vims (EBV, i.e., BVRF2), infectious laryngotracheitis vims (ILTV, i.e., p40 gene), and probably in all herpes vi ses. A proteinase according to the present invention may be all or an active portion of the APNGl primary translation product, or its homologs on other herpes vimses. As previously alluded to, not all of the APNGl primary translation product is necessary for proteinase activity. For example, constructs which have only the first 249 (LM8) or first 280 (LM7) amino acids beginning with the initial methionine codon on the APNGl gene both demonstrate proteinase activity. Activity is defined as the ability to proteolytically process the assembly protein precursor of herpes vims to the mature assembly protein or to cleave site mimetic substances. The preparation of proteinase of the present invention may be made in cells by recombinant DNA techniques, but need not be. The protein may be expressed in mammalian cells, as well as in bacterial, yeast, insect cells, and other cell types, as is convenient for a particular application or purpose. Alternatively, the protein can be chemically synthesized, or expressed in vitro using an in vitro transcription and/or translation system. In still another method of obtaining such a proteinase preparation, infected cells can be used as a source material and standard protein purification techniques can be used. Such purification techniques will typically include an affinity separation step (e.g., immunoaffinity; substrate affinity). The active site domain of the proteinase enzyme has been tentatively identified as the region between and including amino acids 15 (Asp) and 95 (Ser) in the CMV Colbum APNGl proteinase. This region contains two motifs that are highly conserved among the homologous genes of HCMV, HSV-L, VZV, EBV, ILTV, and probably all herpes vimses. See Figure 2. These motifs are referred to as conserved motif 1 and conserved motif 2. SEQ ID NOS 17, 19, 21, 23, 25 and 27, respectively, correspond to conserved motif 1 of CMV Colbum, HCMV, HSV-1, VZV, EBV and ILTV, respectively. SEQ ID NOS 16, 18, 20, 22, 24 and 26, respectively, correspond to conserved motif 2 of CMV Colbum, HCMV, HSV-1, VZV, EBV and ILTV, respectively. A recombinant construct of the proteinase gene was made having a 15 amino acid insertion between conserved motifs 1 and 2. This construct had greatly diminished (i.e., less than about 1 % of the wild-type level) proteinase activity, which supports the assignment of the active site domain. The cleavage site in the assembly protein precursor (i.e., the maturation cleavage site) which leads to formation of the mature assembly protein has been defined with particularity. In simian CMV (Colbum) the cleavage site has been defined as occurring between amino acids 557 and 558. The sequence immediately surrounding this site is Val-Asn-Ala-Ser-Cys. When the assembly protein sequences of other herpes vimses are compared it is found that this site is well conserved. (See Figure 3.) The consensus cleavage site appears to require wherein aa,, is Val or Leu, aa 2 is a polar amino acid, and aa 3 is Ser or Val. The amino acid represented as aa 2 is most often an asparagine residue. While not wishing to be bound by any particular theory, there is evidence (Welch et al. (1991) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, in press) that an additional cleavage site or sites for the proteinase occurs near the middle of the proteinase sequence. It is likely that the proteinase which is responsible for the maturational cleavage of the assembly protein is also involved in self-processing, possibly to create an active form of the proteinase. The carboxyl half of the APNGl gene product has been identified in transfected cells, indicating that cleavage in the middle of the APNGl primary translation product is biologically relevant. (See Figure 5, APNG1 C .) Cleavage at this site (i.e., the enzyme release cleavage site) may be required for the life cycle of the herpes vimses. The consensus sequence for this site comprises Tyr-aa -aa 5 -Ala- ____ < ;, wherein aa 4 is Leu or Val, aa 5 is Lys or Gin, and aa« is Ser or Asn. Having defined the actual cleavage site in the assembly protein precursor and putative cleavage site in the proteinase, it is now possible to design smaller synthetic moieties which can be used as substrates for cleavage by the herpes vims proteinase. These substrates for cleavage typically comprise a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence which has been shown to be a recognized cleavage site by a herpes vims proteinase. The polypeptides will contain the amino acid sequence aa 1 -aa 2 -Ala-aa 3 or Tyr-aa -aa 5 -Ala-aa 6 and most often will contain the amino acid sequence aa,-aa 2 -Ala- Ser or Tyr-aa^aas-Ala-Ser. The substrate is substantially free of the assembly protein precursor or the entire primary translation product of the gene encoding the herpes vims proteinase. This is possible because the entire assembly protein precursor or the entire primary translation product of the gene encoding the proteinase need not be used as a substrate. Synthetic or recombinant substrates can be made which are recognized and cleaved by a herpes vims proteinase. Substrates for the proteinase will typically comprise a polypeptide portion of between about 15 and 25 amino acids. A sufficient number is required for the proteinase to be able to recognize and bind to the cleavable site. Extraneous amino acids are not desirable because they may cause steric inhibition by formation of three-dimensional structures which block the cleavage site. Substrates which mimic the maturation cleavage site or the enzyme release cleavage site can also be made. The substrate itself need not be a totally proteinaceous molecule. It may be linked to other moieties and polymers as is convenient. The substrate will typically be used for assaying proteinase activity in cellular, extracts or in synthetic proteinase preparations, as described above, as well as for, screening for inhibitory substances which block the proteinase cleavage reaction. In one embodiment of the present invention the polypeptide portion of the substrate is linked to a fluorescent moiety and a quenching moiety. Typically these will be linked on opposite ends of the polypeptide. While linked to the polypeptide the fluorescent moiety will not fluoresce due to the proximity of the quenching moiety. However, upon cleavage of the polypeptide, the separation of the two moieties will lead to a loss of quenching and to detectable fluorescence. An example of a similar quenched fluorogenic substrate is taught by Matayoshi, et al. (Science (1990) 247:954-958). There the fluorogenic and quenching moieties employed are 4-(4-dimethylaminophenylazo)benzoic acid (DABCYL) and 5-[(2-aminoethyl)amino]naphthalane-l sulfonic acid (EDANS). As another example of an indicator substrate, a substrate having the cleavage site engineered into a protein, such as j8-galactosidase or luciferase, so that cleavage inactivates the activity of the indicator, is mentioned. In another embodiment of the invention the substrate for cleavage of a herpes vims proteinase is labeled with a radioactive moiety. After exposure of the substrate to the proteinase, the chemical or physical properties of the radioactive species can be determined, specific changes in these properties can be used to monitor cleavage by the proteinase. One such property is size, a reduction in size of the radioactive species indicating cleavage by the proteinase. Alternatively, after exposure of the substrate to the proteinase, the substrate can be extracted into a solvent. A change in the extractability of the radioactive species can be used to indicate cleavage of the substrate. In yet another embodiment of the invention an enzyme is linked to the polypeptide comprising the cleavage site. The polypeptide sterically inhibits the activity of the enzyme. However, upon cleavage of the polypeptide moiety the steric inhibition is relieved and the enzyme activity is regained and can be assayed. Increase of enzyme activity therefore is an indication of cleavage. In an alternative embodiment, the substrate for the enzyme which is linked to the polypeptide for cleavage is also linked to the polypeptide for cleavage. Again, the enzyme is sterically inhibited by its linkage to the polypeptide. However, upon cleavage of the polypeptide the steric inhibition is released and the enzyme can interact with its substrate. Having discovered the proteinase of herpes vims and its particular sites for cleavage (i.e., the maturation cleavage site and the enzyme release cleavage site), a kit can be readily prepared for measuring the activity of a herpes vims proteinase. The kit comprises a proteinase, or portion thereof, encoded by herpes vims and a substrate for cleavage by said proteinase. The substrate for cleavage has the properties described above. Briefly, a substrate for cleavage contains a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence aa,-aa 2 -Ala or Tyr-aa 4 -aa 5 -Ala, and the proteinase cleaves the substrate on the carboxy terminal side of such sequences. The kit is substantially free of intact infectious herpes vims. This purity can be achieved in a number of ways. Preferably, it can be achieved by expressing the proteinase and the substrate for cleavage in a mammalian cell which is free of herpes vims infection. The cleavage of the substrate occurs within the mammalian cell and can be monitored by observation of a change in the size of the substrate, for example. Alternatively, the proteinase and the substrate can be expressed in an in vitro cell-free system, such as a rabbit reticulocyte system, or synthesized chemically. In such cases the two components of the kit can be contacted in vitro and the cleavage reaction observed. The proteinase and the substrate can also be expressed in separate cells of any suitable species. The cells may be either mammalian, bacterial, yeast, insect, or other cell type, as is convenient for the particular application involved. After separately expressing the proteinase and its substrate they can be contacted in vitro to determine an amount of herpes vims proteinase activity. In another embodiment of the invention, the cleavage reaction can be used diagnostically to test for, the presence of a herpes vims. For example, putatively infected cells can be used as a source of proteinase and contacted with a substrate for cleavage. The cleavage of the substrate would indicate the presence in the source of a herpes vims proteinase and therefore of a herpes vims infection. Also contemplated by the present invention is a method for measuring activity of a herpes vims proteinase. According to the method, a proteinase encoded by a herpes vims is contacted with a substrate for cleavage by the proteinase. The substrate for cleavage has the properties described above. The contacting of the substrate with the proteinase occurs in the absence of intact infectious herpes vims virion DNA; this can be accomplished by using as sources of substrate and proteinase cells which are not infected with a herpes vims. The second step of the method involves monitoring cleavage of the substrate. Such monitoring can be accomplished by determining a change of size of said substrate, for example, by observing an altered mobility of the substrate on an electrophoretic gel matrix or on a chro¬ matography medium. Alternatively, the monitoring can be accomplished by observing a change of fluorescence if the substrate has been labelled with a fluorescent moiety as described above. If the substrate has been labelled with a radiolabelled moiety then the cleavage reaction can be monitored by looking for a change in its physical proper¬ ties, as described above. In another embodiment a substrate that has been labelled with an enzyme is used and the cleavage reaction is monitored by determining a colorimetric change of a chromogenic substrate for the enzyme. Suitable enzymes for such purposes are known in the art and include β-galactosidase, alkaline phosphatase, and luciferase. In one embodiment of the method of the present invention, a test substance is also added to the proteinase (or active portion thereof) and substrate to determine the level of inhibition caused by the test substrate. This method can be used as a screen for potential therapeutic molecules. The level of inhibition can be readily determined by measuring the activity of the proteinase in the presence and absence of the test substrate. A significant diminution of the activity of the proteinase in the presence of the test substance indicates a potential anti-herpetic agent. Inhibitors of the herpes vims proteinase are also provided by the present invention. Typically, these are non-cleavable derivatives of substrates of the proteinase. The inhibitors may comprise a polypeptide portion of about 6 to 12 amino acids and often will mimic the stmcture of the appropriate substrate for the proteinase. However, the inhibitor may differ from the substrates for the enzyme in having a modification of the scissile peptide bond which is carboxyl to the sequence aa r aa 2 -Ala or Tyr-aa 4 -aa 5 -Ala. Any modification of this bond can be used which partially inhibits or totally blocks the proteinase cleavage. Such modifications of the scissile peptide bond include replacement by a hydroxyethylamine linkage, a phosphonamide linkage, a carbon fluoride aldehyde, and a dialcohol linkage. Such inhibitors will bind to the proteinase active site domain but will be either totally non-cleavable or cleavable at a much lower rate than a proper substrate. As the cleavage reaction is known to be essential for the formation of herpes vims particles, inhibition of the cleavage reaction can be used as an anti-herpetic therapeutic treatment. Certain modifications to the inhibitors of the present invention may be desired in order to render them more resistant to proteolysis in the human body or to render them more easily taken up by infected cells. One such modification is to place an amide moiety on the carboxy terminal end of the polypeptide. This reduces the charge of the molecule rendering it more accessible to cells. Another possible modification involves placing a D-tyrosine moiety on the amino terminal end of the inhibitor. This renders the inhibitor less susceptible to proteolysis. Other inhibitors may now be designed based on the 3-dimensional stmcture of the proteinase. Typically, X-ray crystallography is used to determine a stmcture for the enzyme and inhibitors are designed to conform to the determined stmcture. Since it has been shown that proteinase activity resides within the first 249 amino acids of the CMV Colbum APNGl protein, the use of X-ray crystallography to determine the 3-dimensional stmcture of the amino terminal 249 residues can be used to design inhibitors of this proteolytically active sequence. Recombinant DNA molecules are also provided by the present invention. These molecules encode at least a portion of the herpes vims proteinase. The proteinase portion retains the ability to cleave a herpes vims assembly protein. Applicants have found that the entire proteinase gene which is transcribed in vivo as a 1.8 kb RNA molecule, is not necessary for expression of proteinase activity. It has been determined that the portion of the APNGl gene encoding the assembly protein precursor is not needed for proteolytic activity. Portions of the proteinase which comprise only amino acids 1 through 249 have been found to retain proteolytic activity. Further, as discussed above, it is possible that further, shortening of the proteinase molecule is possible without loss of proteolytic activity. EXAMPLES Example 1 This example provides the sequence of the simian CMV proteinase gene and compares portions of it to other herpes vims sequences. The Xbal R fragment of strain Colbum CMV DNA was cloned into the plasmid pUClδ, and the nucleotide sequence of both strands was determined by the dideoxy nucleotide chain termination method (Sanger et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA (1977) 74:5463-5467) with appropriate DNA oligonucleotide primers and the Sequenase kit (USB, Cleveland, Ohio). Nucleotide sequence analysis of the CMV (Colbum) genomic Xbal R fragment confirmed the cDNA sequence previously determined for the assembly protein-coding region and revealed that the 930-bp coding sequence for the assembly protein precursor (nucleotides 1072 to 2001) is the 3' end of a 1,770-bp open reading frame (ORF) (nucleotides 232 to 2001) that begins with a methionine and, together with its upstream regulatory region, was designated assembly protein nested gene 1 (APGNG1) (Figure 1). APNGl includes an upstream potential TATA promoter element, contains three internal potential TATA promoters and three corresponding ATG translational start codons in addition to its own, and is followed by a single downstream polyadenylation signal. This organization indicated that the APNGl region could give rise to four 3 'co-terminal mRNAs able to encode four corresponding in-frame, overlapping proteins. These nested coding sequences are numbered according to their fractional length relative to that of the longest, APNGl. Figure 1 presents the nucleotide and amino acid sequences of the APNGl region and shows the positions of (1) proposed TATA promoter elements (italicized and dot underlined), (2) proposed translational start methionines for the coding sequence in each of the nested genes (capitalized and doubly underlined, and the designation of the corresponding assembly protein nested gene (APNG) is indicated above each), (3) the single polyadenylation signal at the 3' end (underlined). The APNGl (proteinase) gene has homologs in human CMV (HCMV, i.e., UL80a), herpes simplex vims type-1 (HSV- 1, i.e., UL27), varicella zoster vims (VZV, i.e., UL33), Epstein-Barr vims (EBV, i.e., BVRF2), and infections laryngotracheitis vims (ILTV, i.e., p40). At least a portion of the active site domain of the proteinase has now been tentatively identified as the region between amino acids 15 and 195 in the CMV Colbum APNGl protein. This region contains two motifs that are highly conserved among the homologous genes of HCMV, HSV-L, VZV, EBV, and ILTV, and probably all herpes vimses (Figure 2). These motifs are referred to as "conserved motif 1" (CMl) and "conserved motif 2". Striking similarities in the spacing of possible active site residues resembling both cysteine (i.e., His 47 , Cys^, His 142 ) and serine (His 47 , Aspι W , Ser, 95 ) proteinases are detected among all six herpes vimses, suggesting that the herpes vims proteinases may have two separate proteolytic activities. It has been found that an altered form of APNGl (LM3) which contains a 15 amino acid sequence (the C3 epitope of poliovirus VP2) inserted between CMl and CM2, has only a trace amount of proteinase activity (i.e., < 1 %) (see Figure 5, lane g). Insertion of the same sequence into the carboxyl end of APNGl did not reduce proteinase activity (Figure 5, lane f). This suggests that the CM1/CM2 region does contain at least a portion of the active site domain of this proteinase. Furthermore, two subclones of APNGl were made which expressed portions of the proteinase gene comprising amino acids 1-249 (LM8) and 1-280 (LM7). Both are proteolytically active using assembly protein precursor as a substrate. This, too. supports the active site domain assignment. Example 2 This example demonstrates the precise cleavage site involved in the maturational processing of assembly protein precursor to assembly protein, as well as the conservation of the site among herpes vimses. The mature assembly protein was treated with endoproteinase Lys-C or endoproteinase Glu-C (V8 proteinase). Specific peptide products were isolated and subjected to analysis by mass spectrometry. The diagnostic molecular ions identified from HPLC-purified peptides of the Colbum CMV assembly protein were mass 902.5 (Endo-Lys-C fragment, SAERGWNA) and mass 616.4 (Endo-Glu-C fragment, RGWNA). Thus the cleavage site is between Ala 557 and Ser 55g in SCMV Colbum. This cleavage site is well conserved in HCMV, HSV-I, VZV, EBV, ILTV, and probably in all herpes group vimses (Figure 3). Example 3 This example provides proteinase substrate derivatives with altered chemistry at the scissile peptide bond. Based on the cleavage site sequence, several classes of anti-herpes vims peptide mimetics can be synthesized. These include hydroxyethylamine-, dialcohol-, phosphonamide-, and carbon fluoride aldehyde-derivatives of the scissile peptide bond (i.e., carboxyl to the alanine in the general sequences aa,-aa 2 -Ala-aa 3 and Tyr-aa 4 -aa 5 - aa ! -aa 2 -Ala-CHOH-CH 2 -NH-aa 3 (hydroxyethylamine derivative) aai-aa 2 -Ala-P0 2 -NH-aa 3 (phosphonamide derivative) aaι-aa 2 -Ala-CF 2 CHO (carbon fluoride aldehyde) aa,-aa 2 -Ala-C(OH) 2 -NH-aa 3 (dialcohol derivative) Tyr-aa 4 -aa 5 -Ala-CHOH-CH 2 -NH-aa 6 (hydroxyethylamine derivative) Tyr-aa 4 -aa 5 -Ala-PO 2 -NH-a_ι 6 (phosphonamide derivative) Tyr-aa^aas-Ala-CF^CHO (carbon fluoride aldehyde) Tyr-aa 4 -aa 5 -Ala-C(OH 2 )-NH-aa 6 (dialcohol derivative) Example 4 This example demonstrates the in vitro transcription and translation of the cloned CMV Colbum assembly protein precursor gene. The assembly protein precursor gene (APNG.5, see Figure 1) and the overlapping APNGl gene were cloned from the simian strain Colbum CMV DNA, using PCR amplification, into a pGEM4Z plasmid to produce plasmids AW2 and AW3, respectively. T7-promoted n-off transcripts of both genes were prepared, and translated in rabbit reticulocyte lysates containing 35 S-methionine. The proteins were separated by electrophoresis in an SDS-containing polyacrylamide gel (10%), electrotransferred onto an Immobilon-P™ membrane and probed with an antiserum to the carboxyl 21 amino acids of the assembly protein precursor (i.e., Anti-Cl, see Schenk, et al. (1991) J. Virol. 65: 1525-1529). The resulting protein-antibody complexes were visualized by using 125 I-Protein A. A fluorogram of the blot is shown in Figure 4. The exposure technique used recorded only ,25 I-radioactivity (i.e. , Kodak DEF film and black paper between blot and recording Kodak XAR film). The in vitro translated assembly protein (lane 3, APNG.5/AW2) comigrated with the infected cell assembly protein precursor (i.e., 40-kDa band in lane 5) and was not proteolytically processed in the reticulocyte lysate. The protein product of the APNGl gene (lane 4) comigrated with the 85-kDa protein present in the Colbum CMV-infected cell cytoplasm (i.e., 85-kDa band in lane 5). Mock infected nuclear and cytoplasmic fractions (lanes 1 and 6) show no evidence of proteins reactive with the Anti-Cl antibody. Example 5 This example demonstrates that assembly protein cleavage occurs in cells cotransfected with the genes for the assembly protein precursor and for the APNGl protein. Human cells were transfected with an expression plasmid containing the gene for the assembly protein precursor (AW1), or with an expression plasmid containing the gene for the APNGl protein (AW4), or with both plasmids (AW1 +AW4). Parallel cotransfections were done using the AW1 plasmid in combination with altered versions of AW4 that contain (1) a 13 amino acid sequence inserted into the carboxyl end of APNGl (LM2), or (2) a 15 amino acid sequence inserted into the amino end of APNGl (LM3). Following transfection the cells were solubilized and the proteins were separated by electrophoresis in an SDS-containing polyacrylamide gel (SDS-PAGE). The resolved proteins were electrotransferred to an Immobilon-P™ membrane and visualized by probing the membrane with an antisemm (Anti-Nl) that reacts with the amino end of the assembly protein and with other assembly protein nested gene products (e.g., 85-kDa APNGl protein). Colbum CMV-infected cell proteins were mn as markers. The results of these experiments are shown in Figure 5. The assembly protein (AP) and its precursor (preAP) can be seen in the cytoplasmic and nuclear fractions of Colbum CMV-infected cells (lanes a and b, respectively). The precursor form is more abundant in the cytoplasm (lane a) and the mature form is more abundant in the nucleus (lane b). Cells transfected with only the gene coding for the assembly protein precursor (i.e., plasmid AW1) expressed the precursor form of the assembly protein but no product (lane d). The much less abundant, slightly larger protein is believed to correspond to a protein also detected in infected cells, but present there in vanishingly small amounts. Cells transfected with only the gene coding for the larger protein of the "assembly protein nested gene family" (i.e., 85-kDa protein product of APNGl encoded by plasmid AW4) expressed the 85k-Da protein (APNGl), and a second doublet band believed to represent the carboxyl end of the APNGl protein (i.e., APNGl., 45 to 50 kDa in size, lane e). Cells cotransfected with the assembly protein precursor gene and the APNGl gene (i.e., AW1 +AW4) contained: (1) the APNGl and APNGl, proteins encoded by AW4, and (2) predominantly the mature (i.e. , cleaved) form of the assembly protein (AP) (lane c). Essentially no precursor form of the assembly protein (preAP) was detected with this semm (Anti-Nl) or with an even more sensitive antisemm for the precursor form (i.e., Anti-Cl). This finding indicates that cleavage of the precursor in transfected cells is highly efficient. Cells cotransfected with the assembly protein precursor gene (AW1) and an altered form of the APNGl gene (LM2, altered at the carboxyl end) that contains a 45 bp insert at the single APNGl Dral site, encoding the polio vims VP2 C3 epitope (Charbit, et al., 1986, EMBO J., 5:5029-3038) contained: (1) a higher molecular weight form of APNGl (ΔAPNG1, indicated by dot to left of lane f) resulting from the inserted 15 amino acids of VP2 C3, (2) a correspondingly larger form of the carboxyl end of the APNGl protein (i.e., ΔAPNG1,), and (3) only the mature (i.e., cleaved) form of the assembly protein (AP)(lane f). The band close to the position of the assembly protein precursor (i.e., preAP) in lane 4 is not reactive with. Anti-Cl and is believed to correspond to the processed form of the slightly larger, low abundance protein expressed by AW1 and mentioned above. Cells cotransfected with the assembly protein precursor gene (AW1) and an altered form of the APNGl gene (LM3, altered at amino, N-end) that contains a 45 bp insert (VP2 C3) at the single APNGl EcoRV site, located between the highly conserved motifs CMl and CM2, contained: (1) a higher molecular weight form of APNGl (ΔAPNG1, indicated by arrow to left of lane g) resulting from the inserted 15 amino acids of VP2 C3, (2) a weak band at the position of ΔAPNG1 C , but corresponding in size to the band in lane f because the carboxyl cleavage at Val-Asn- Ser has not occurred (i.e., band in lane g reacted with Anti-Cl, in contrast to band in lane f), and (3) only the noncleaved, precursor form of the assembly protein (preAP) (lane g). Again, the lower abundance band above the assembly protein precursor in lane g is thought to correspond to a scarce species also detected in infected cells. SEQUENCE LISTING (1) GENERAL INFORMATION: (i) APPLICANT: GIBSON, D. WADE WELCH, ANTHONY R. (ii) TITLE OF INVENTION: HERPES VIRUS PROTEINASE AND METHOD OF ASSAYING (iii) NUMBER OF SEQUENCES: 27 (iv) CORRESPONDENCE ADDRESS: (A) ADDRESSEE: Banner, Birch, McKie & Beckett (B) STREET: 1001 G Street, N.W., Eleventh Floor (C) CITY: Washington (D) STATE: D.C. (E) COUNTRY: U.S.A. (F) ZIP: 20001-4597 (v) COMPUTER READABLE FORM: (A) MEDIUM TYPE: Floppy disk (B) COMPUTER: IBM PC compatible (C) OPERATING SYSTEM: PC-DOS/MS-DOS (D) SOFTWARE: Patentin Release #1.0, Version #1.25 (vi) CURRENT APPLICATION DATA: (A) APPLICATION NUMBER: US 07/798,776 (B) FILING DATE: 27-NOV-1991 (C) CLASSIFICATION: (viii) ATTORNEY/AGENT INFORMATION: (A) NAME: FOULKE, CYNTHIA L. (B) REGISTRATION NUMBER: 32,364 (C) REFERENCE/DOCKET NUMBER: 1107.037080 (ix) TELECOMMUNICATION INFORMATION: (A) TELEPHONE: (202) 508-9100 (B) TELEFAX: (202) 508-9299 (C) TELEX: 197430 BBMB UT (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:l: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 2014 base pairs (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE: (A) ORGANISM: Simian cytomegalovirus (B) STRAIN: Colbum (ix) FEATURE: (A) NAME/KEY: CDS (B) LOCATION: 175..2001 (ix) FEATURE: (A) NAME/KEY: sig_peptide (B) LOCATION: 175..231 (ix) FEATURE: (A) NAME/KEY: mat_peptide (B) LOCATION: 232..2001 (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:l: TTGTCCGACA CCCCCAGGTT ATTGGTGGTC TCGCGGGGGG GGAACAGGGG GGTTTGCAGG 60 CCTCGGTTAA AGAGCAGCAC GCAGATGAGT CTCAAGATCT TGAGTTCTTC CAGCCGCAGG 120 GTGTTGAGCG GCTGTCCCCG CGACATCTTT TCGCTGATCT GTAATATTAG ATGA TTG 177 Leu -19 GCA CAA GTA AAG GAG AAT TTG CCG GTT CGA ACC CGG GCC TCC TCC GTG 225 Ala Gin Val Lys Glu Asn Leu Pro Val Arg Thr Arg Ala Ser Ser Val -15 -10 -5 TTG GAC ATG GCC GAT CCC GTC TAC GTC GGG GGT TTT TTG GTG CGC TAC 273 Leu Asp Met Ala Asp Pro Val Tyr Val Gly Gly Phe Leu Val Arg Tyr 1 5 10 GAC GAG CCT CCC GGA GAA GCT GAG CTG TTT CTG CCC TCG GGG GTG GTA 321 Asp Glu Pro Pro Gly Glu Ala Glu Leu Phe Leu Pro Ser Gly Val Val 15 20 25 30 GAC CGC TGG TTG CGC GAT TGC CGA GGC CCG CTG CCC CTG AAT GTC AAT 369 Asp Arg Trp Leu Arg Asp Cys Arg Gly Pro Leu Pro Leu Asn Val Asn 35 40 45 CAC GAC GAG TCG GCG ACC GTG GGC TAT GTG GCT GGG CTC CAG AAT GTC 417 His Asp Glu Ser Ala Thr Val Gly Tyr Val Ala Gly Leu Gin Asn Val 50 55 60 CGG GCC GGC TTG TTC TGT TTG GGA CGT GTT ACG TCC CCC AAG TTT CTG 465 Arg Ala Gly Leu Phe Cys Leu Gly Arg Val Thr Ser Pro Lys Phe Leu 65 70 75 GAT ATC GTT CAA AAA GCC TCG GAA AAA TCC GAG TTG GTG TCC CGG GGA 513 Asp lie Val Gin Lys Ala Ser Glu Lys Ser Glu Leu Val Ser Arg Gly 80 85 90 CCT CCG TCC GAG TCC TCG TTG CGG CCG GAC GGC GTG TTG GAG TTT CTC 561 Pro Pro Ser Glu Ser Ser Leu Arg Pro Asp Gly Val Leu Glu Phe Leu 95 100 105 110 AGC GGC AGT TAT TCG GGC CTG TCG CTC TCC AGC CGC CGA GAT ATA AAC 609 Ser Gly Ser Tyr Ser Gly Leu Ser Leu Ser Ser Arg Arg Asp lie Asn 115 120 125 GCG GCC GAT GGC GCC GCG GGC GAT GCA GAA ACA GCG TGC TTC AAA CAT 657 Ala Ala Asp Gly Ala Ala Gly Asp Ala Glu Thr Ala Cys Phe Lys His 130 135 140 GTG GCT CTG TGC AGC GTG GGC CGC CGC CGG GGC ACG TTG GCG GTG TAT 705 Val Ala Leu Cys Ser Val Gly Arg Arg Arg Gly Thr Leu Ala Val Tyr 145 150 155 GGC AGG CAG CCA GAT TGG GTG ATG GAA CGT TTC CCG GAT CTC ACC GAG 753 Gly Arg Gin Pro Asp Trp Val Met Glu Arg Phe Pro Asp Leu Thr Glu 160 165 170 GCC GAC CGG GAA GCG CTG CGA AAT CAG CTA TCG GGA AGT GGG GAA GTT 801 Ala Asp Arg Glu Ala Leu Arg Asn Gin Leu Ser Gly Ser Gly Glu Val 175 180 185 190 GCC GCG AAG GAA AGT GCG GAA TCG TCT GCC GCC GCC GCC GTC GAT CCC 849 Ala Ala Lys Glu Ser Ala Glu Ser Ser Ala Ala Ala Ala Val Asp Pro 195 200 205 TTT CAG TCG GAT TCG TAC GGG CTG TTG GGG AAC AGT GTG GAC GCG CTG 897 Phe Gin Ser Asp Ser Tyr Gly Leu Leu Gly Asn Ser Val Asp Ala Leu 210 215 220 TAC ATT CAA GAG CGT CTC CCT AAG CTG CGC TAT GAC AAG CGG CTG GTC 945 Tyr lie Gin Glu Arg Leu Pro Lys Leu Arg Tyr Asp Lys Arg Leu Val 225 230 235 GGG GTC ACG GCT CGG GAG TCG TAC GTG AAA GCC AGT GTT TCG CCC GCC 993 Gly Val Thr Ala Arg Glu Ser Tyr Val Lys Ala Ser Val Ser Pro Ala 240 245 250 GAG CAG GAG ACG TGC GAT ATT AAA GTA GAA AAA GAG CGG CCG AAG GAG 1041 Glu Gin Glu Thr Cys Asp lie Lys Val Glu Lys Glu Arg Pro Lys Glu 255 260 265 270 CCA GAG CAG AGC CAC GTA CCG ACC GAG TCA ATG TCT CAC CCT ATG AGC 1089 Pro Glu Gin Ser His Val Pro Thr Glu Ser Met Ser His Pro Met Ser 275 280 285 GCC GTG GCT' ACT CCG GCG GCC TCG ACC GTC GCG CCT TCT CAG GCG CCG 1137 Ala Val Ala Thr Pro Ala Ala Ser Thr Val Ala Pro Ser Gin Ala Pro 290 295 300 CTG GCG CTG GCC CAT GAC GGT GTT TAT TTA CCT AAA GAC GCT TTT TTC 1185 Leu Ala Leu Ala His Asp Gly Val Tyr Leu Pro Lys Asp Ala Phe Phe 305 310 315 TCG CTC ATC GGG GCC AGT CGT CCC CTG GCC GAG GCG GCG GGA GCG CGC 1233 Ser Leu lie Gly Ala Ser Arg Pro Leu Ala Glu Ala Ala Gly Ala Arg 320 325 330 GCC GCG TAT CCG GCT GTC CCG CCG CCA CCC GCG TAT CCG GTA ATG AAT 1281 Ala Ala Tyr Pro Ala Val Pro Pro Pro Pro Ala Tyr Pro Val Met Asn 335 340 345 350 TAT GAG GAC CCC TCC TCA CGT CAC TTT GAC TAC AGT GCC TGG CTG CGG 1329 Tyr Glu Asp Pro Ser Ser Arg His Phe Asp Tyr Ser Ala Trp Leu Arg 355 360 365 CGG CCA GCT TAT GAC GCC GTG CCT CCC CTG CCT CCT CCC CCC GTC ATG 1377 Arg Pro Ala Tyr Asp Ala Val Pro Pro Leu Pro Pro Pro Pro Val Met 370 375 380 CCC ATG CCG TAT CGC AGA CGC GAC CCC ATG ATG GAG GAG GCC GAG CGC 1425 Pro Met Pro Tyr Arg Arg Arg Asp Pro Met Met Glu Glu Ala Glu Arg 385 390 395 GCC GCC TGG GAG CGC GGG TAC GCG CCT TCT GCT TAT GAC CAC TAC GTG 1473 Ala Ala Trp Glu Arg Gly Tyr Ala Pro Ser Ala Tyr Asp His Tyr Val 400 405 410 AAC AAC GGC TCC TGG TCG CGG AGC CGC AGC GGC GCG CTC AAG AGG CGA 1521 Asn Asn Gly Ser Trp Ser Arg Ser Arg Ser Gly Ala Leu Lys Arg Arg 415 420 425 430 AGG GAG CGC GAC GCG TCC TCG GAT GAG GAA GAG GAC ATG AGT TTT CCC 1569 Arg Glu Arg Asp Ala Ser Ser Asp Glu Glu Glu Asp Met Ser Phe Pro 435 440 445 GGG GAA GCC GAC CAC GGC AAG GCT CGG AAA AGA CTC AAA GCT CAT CAC 1617 Gly Glu Ala Asp His Gly Lys Ala Arg Lys Arg Leu Lys Ala His His 450 455 460 GGG CGT GAT AAT AAC AAC TCT GGG AGC GAT GCC AAG GGC GAT CGG TAC 1665 Gly Arg Asp Asn Asn Asn Ser Gly Ser Asp Ala Lys Gly Asp Arg Tyr 465 470 475 GAC GAC ATT CGG GAA GCG TTA CAG GAG CTG AAG CGC GAG ATG CTG GCC 1713 Asp Asp lie Arg Glu Ala Leu Gin Glu Leu Lys Arg Glu Met Leu Ala 480 485 490 GTG CGG CAG ATC GCG CCA CGT GCG CTC TTG GCC CCC GCA CAG CTA GCG 1761 Val Arg Gin lie Ala Pro Arg Ala Leu Leu Ala Pro Ala Gin Leu Ala 495 500 505 510 ACG CCC GTG GCT TCT CCG ACA ACG ACC ACG TCG CAT CAA GCC GAG GCT 1809 Thr Pro Val Ala Ser Pro Thr Thr Thr Thr Ser His Gin Ala Glu Ala 515 520 525 AGC GAA CCT CAG GCA TCG ACT GCC GCT GCC GCG TCG CCG TCA ACC GCT 1857 Ser Glu Pro Gin Ala Ser Thr Ala Ala Ala Ala Ser Pro Ser Thr Ala 530 535 540 TCG TCG CAC GGC AGC AAG TCG GCC GAA CGC GGG GTG GTG AAC GCC TCG 1905 Ser Ser His Gly Ser Lys Ser Ala Glu Arg Gly Val Val Asn Ala Ser 545 550 555 TGT CGC GTT GCG CCT CCG TTG GAG GCT GTG AAC CCC CCT AAG GAC ATG 1953 Cys Arg Val Ala Pro Pro Leu Glu Ala Val Asn Pro Pro Lys Asp Met 560 565 570 GTG GAC TTG AAT CGT CGC CTG TTT GTG GCG GCG TTG AAT AAA ATG GAA 2001 , . .. Val Asp Leu Asn Arg Arg Leu Phe Val Ala Ala Leu Asn Lys Met Glu 575 580 585 590 TAAAAACTCG TAC 2014 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:2: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 609 amino acids (B) TYPE: amino acid (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:2: Leu Ala Gin Val Lys Glu Asn Leu Pro Val Arg Thr Arg Ala Ser Ser -19 -15 -10 -5 Val Leu Asp Met Ala Asp Pro Val Tyr Val Gly Gly Phe Leu Val Arg 1 5 10 Tyr Asp Glu Pro Pro Gly Glu Ala Glu Leu Phe Leu Pro Ser Gly Val 15 20 25 Val Asp Arg Trp Leu Arg Asp Cys Arg Gly Pro Leu Pro Leu Asn Val 30 35 40 45 Asn His Asp Glu Ser Ala Thr Val Gly Tyr Val Ala Gly Leu Gin Asn 50 55 60 Val Arg Ala Gly Leu Phe Cys Leu Gly Arg Val Thr Ser Pro Lys Phe 65 70 75 Leu Asp lie Val Gin Lys Ala Ser Glu Lys Ser Glu Leu Val Ser Arg 80 85 90 Gly Pro Pro Ser Glu Ser Ser Leu Arg Pro Asp Gly Val Leu Glu Phe 95 100 105 Leu Ser Gly Ser Tyr Ser Gly Leu Ser Leu Ser Ser Arg Arg Asp He 110 115 120 125 Asn Ala Ala Asp Gly Ala Ala Gly Asp Ala Glu Thr Ala Cys Phe Lys 130 135 140 His Val Ala Leu Cys Ser Val Gly Arg Arg Arg Gly Thr Leu Ala Val 145 150 155 Tyr Gly Arg Gin Pro Asp Trp Val Met Glu Arg Phe Pro Asp Leu Thr 160 165 170 Glu Ala Asp Arg Glu Ala Leu Arg Asn Gin Leu Ser Gly Ser Gly Glu 175 180 185 Val Ala Ala Lys Glu Ser Ala Glu Ser Ser Ala Ala Ala Ala Val Asp 190 195 200 205 Pro Phe Gin Ser Asp Ser Tyr Gly Leu Leu Gly Asn Ser Val Asp Ala 210 215 220 Leu Tyr He Gin Glu Arg Leu Pro Lys Leu Arg Tyr Asp Lys Arg Leu 225 230 235 Val Gly Val Thr Ala Arg Glu Ser Tyr Val Lys Ala Ser Val Ser Pro 240 245 250 Ala Glu Gin Glu Thr Cys Asp He Lys Val Glu Lys Glu Arg Pro Lys 255 260 265 Glu Pro Glu Gin Ser His Val Pro Thr Glu Ser Met Ser His Pro Met 270 275 280 285 Ser Ala Val Ala Thr Pro Ala Ala Ser Thr Val Ala Pro Ser Gin Ala 290 295 300 Pro Leu Ala Leu Ala His Asp Gly Val Tyr Leu Pro Lys Asp Ala Phe 305 310 315 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:3: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 18 amino acids (B) TYPE: amino acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO (v) FRAGMENT TYPE: internal (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE: (A) ORGANISM: Simian cytomegalovirus (B) STRAIN: Colburn (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:3: Ser Lys Ser Ala Glu Arg Gly Val Val Asn Ala Ser Cys Arg Val Ala 1 5 10 15 Pro Pro (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:4: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 18 amino acids (B) TYPE: amino acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO (v) FRAGMENT TYPE: internal (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE: (A) ORGANISM: Human cytomegalovirus (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:4: Ala Glu Arg Ala Gin Ala Gly Val Val Asn Ala Ser Cys Arg Leu Ala 1 5 10 15 Thr Ala (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:5: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 18 amino acids (B) TYPE: amino acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO (v) FRAGMENT TYPE: internal (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE: (A) ORGANISM: Herpes simplex virus type 1 (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:5: Ser Asn Ala Glu Ala Gly Ala Leu Val Asn Ala Ser Ser Ala Ala His 1 5 10 15 Val Asp (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:6: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 18 amino acids (B) TYPE: amino acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO (v) FRAGMENT TYPE: internal (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE: (A) ORGANISM: Varicella-zoster virus (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:6: His Thr Asp Thr Val Gly Gin Asp Val Asn Ala Val Glu Ala Ser Ser 1 5 10 15 Lys Ala (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:7: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 18 amino acids (B) TYPE: amino acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO (v) FRAGMENT TYPE: internal (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE: (A) ORGANISM: Epstein-Barr virus (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:7: Gly His His Arg Gly Lys Lys Leu Val Gin Ala Ser Ala Ser Gly Val 1 5 10 15 Ala Gin (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:8: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 18 amino acids (B) TYPE: amino acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO (v) FRAGMENT TYPE: internal (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE: (A) ORGANISM: Infectious Laryngotracheitis Virus (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:8: Asn Gin Glu Ser Ala Arg Glu Thr Val Asp Ala Ser Met Pro Lys Arg 1 5 10 15 Leu Lys (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:9: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 12 amino acids (B) TYPE: amino acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO (v) FRAGMENT TYPE: internal (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE: (A) ORGANISM: Human Herpes Virus 6 (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:9: Ala Ala Ser Pro Lys Pro Ser He Leu Asn Ala Ser 1 5 10 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:10: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 20 amino acids (B) TYPE: amino acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO (v) FRAGMENT TYPE: internal (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE: (A) ORGANISM: Simian cytomegalovirus (B) STRAIN: Colbum (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:10: Val Thr Ala Arg Glu Ser Tyr Val Lys Ala Ser Val Ser Pro Ala Glu 1 5 10 15 Gin Glu Thr Cys 20 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:11: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 20 amino acids (B) TYPE: amino acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO (v) FRAGMENT TYPE: internal (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE: (A) ORGANISM: Human cytomegalovirus (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION : SEQ ID NO : 11 : Val Thr Glu Arg Glu Ser Tyr Val Lys Ala Ser Val Ser Pro Glu Ala 1 5 10 15 Arg Ala He Leu 20 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:12: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 20 amino acids (B) TYPE: amino acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO (v) FRAGMENT TYPE: internal (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE: (A) ORGANISM: Herpes simplex virus type 1 (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:12: Gly He Ala Gly His Thr Tyr Leu Gin Ala Ser Glu Lys Phe Lys Met 1 5 10 15 Trp Gly Ala Glu 20 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:13: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 20 amino acids (B) TYPE: amino acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO (v) FRAGMENT TYPE: internal (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE: (A) ORGANISM: Varicella-zoster virus (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:13: Gly He Met Gly His Val Tyr Leu Gin Ala Ser Thr Gly Tyr Gly Leu 1 5 10 15 Ala Arg He Thr 20 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:14: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 20 amino acids (B) TYPE: amino acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO (v) FRAGMENT TYPE: internal (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE: (A) ORGANISM: Epstein-Barr virus (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:14: Asn He Pro Ala Glu Ser Tyr Leu Lys Ala Ser Asp Ala Pro Asp Leu 1 5 10 15 Gin Lys Pro Asp 20 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:15: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 20 amino acids (B) TYPE: amino acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO (v) FRAGMENT TYPE: internal (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE: (A) ORGANISM: Infectious Laryngotracheitis Virus (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 15 : Ala Val Tyr Asn Pro Lys Tyr Leu Gin Ala Asn Glu Val He Thr He 1 5 10 15 Gly He Lys Glu 20 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:16: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 17 amino acids (B) TYPE: amino acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO (v) FRAGMENT TYPE: internal (Vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE: (A) ORGANISM: Simian cytomegalovirus (B) STRAIN: Colbum (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:16: Pro Leu Pro Leu Asn Val Asn His Asp Glu Ser Ala Thr Val Gly Tyr 1 5 10 15 Val (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:17: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 20 amino acids (B) TYPE: amino acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO (v) FRAGMENT TYPE: internal (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE: (A) ORGANISM: Simian cytomegalovirus (B) STRAIN: Colbu (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:17: Phe Lys His Val Ala Leu Cys Ser Val Gly Arg Arg Arg Gly Thr Leu 1 5 10 15 Ala Val Tyr Gly 20 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:18: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 17 amino acids (B) TYPE: amino acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO (v) FRAGMENT TYPE: internal (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE: (A) ORGANISM: Human cytomegalovirus (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:18: Ala Leu Pro Leu Asn He Asn His Asp Asp Thr Ala Val Val Gly His 1 5 10 15 Val (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:19: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 20 amino acids (B) TYPE: amino acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO (v) FRAGMENT TYPE: internal (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE: (A) ORGANISM: Human cytomegalovirus (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:19: Phe Lys His Val Ala Leu Cys Ser Val Gly Arg Arg Arg Gly Thr Leu 1 5 10 15 Ala Val Tyr Gly 20 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:20: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 17 amino acids (B) TYPE: amino acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO (v) FRAGMENT TYPE: internal (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE: (A) ORGANISM: Herpes simplex virus type 1 (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:20: Pro Leu Pro He Asn Val Asp His Arg Ala Gly Cys Glu Val Gly Arg 1 5 10 15 Val (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:21: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 20 amino acids (B) TYPE: amino acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO (v) FRAGMENT TYPE: internal (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE: (A) ORGANISM: Herpes simplex virus type 1 (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:21: Phe Ala His Val Ala Leu Cys Ala He Gly Arg Arg Leu Gly Thr He 1 5 10 15 Val Thr Tyr Asp 20 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:22: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 17 amino acids (B) TYPE: amino acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO (v) FRAGMENT TYPE: internal (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE: (A) ORGANISM: Varicella-zoster virus (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:22: Lys He Pro He Asn He Asp His Arg Lys Asp Cys Val Val Gly Glu 1 5 10 15 Val (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:23: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 20 amino acids (B) TYPE: amino acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO (v) FRAGMENT TYPE: internal (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE: (A) ORGANISM: Varicella-zoster virus (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:23: Phe Thr His Val Ala Leu Cys Val Val Gly Arg Arg Val Gly Thr Val 1 5 10 15 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:24: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 17 amino acids (B) TYPE: amino acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO (v) FRAGMENT TYPE: internal (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE: (A) ORGANISM: Epstein-Barr virus (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:24: Pro Leu Pro Leu Thr Val Glu His Leu Pro Asp Ala Pro Val Gly Ser 1 5 10 15 Val (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:25: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 20 amino acids (B) TYPE: amino acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO (v) FRAGMENT TYPE: internal (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE: (A) ORGANISM: Epstein-Barr virus (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:25: Phe Asp His Val Ser He Cys Ala Leu Gly Arg Arg Arg Gly Thr Thr 1 5 10 15 Ala Val Tyr Gly 20 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:26: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 17 amino acids (B) TYPE: amino acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO (v) FRAGMENT TYPE: internal (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE: (A) ORGANISM: Infectious Laryngotracheitis Virus (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:26: Thr He Pro He Asn He Asp His Glu Ser Ser Cys Val Val Gly Thr 1 5 10 15 Val (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:27: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 20 amino acids (B) TYPE: amino acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO (v) FRAGMENT TYPE: internal (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE: (A) ORGANISM: Infectious Laryngotracheitis Virus (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 27: Phe Ala His Val Ala Leu Cys Glu Leu Gly Arg Arg Glu Gly Thr Val 1 5 10 15 Ala He Tyr Gly 20

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A preparation of a proteinase encoded by a herpes vims, said proteinase able to cleave herpes vims assembly protein precursor to form assembly protein, said preparation being free of intact infectious virion DNA of the herpes vims. 2. A substrate for cleavage by a herpes vims proteinase, said substrate comprising a polypeptide containing an amino acid sequence: aa r aa 2 -Ala-aa 3 , wherein aa, is Val or Leu, aa 2 is a polar amino acid, and aa 3 is Ser, Val, ' or Asn, wherein said proteinase cleaves said substrate on the carboxy terminal side of the Ala residue, and wherein said substrate is substantially free of assembly protein precursor of the herpes vims. 3. The substrate of claim 2 wherein said polypeptide contains the amino acid sequence Val-Asn-Ala-Ser. 4. The substrate of claim 2 wherein said polypeptide is linked to a fluorescent moiety and a quenching moiety, said moieties being separated by said polypeptide. 5. The substrate of claim 2 wherein said polypeptide is labeled with a radioactive moiety. 6. The substrate of claim 2 wherein an enzyme is linked to said polypeptide, said polypeptide sterically inhibiting said enzyme. 7. The substrate of claim 6 wherein a substrate for said enzyme is linked to the polypeptide. 8. The substrate of claim 2 wherein the amino acid sequence contained in said peptide is within an indicator molecule. 9. The substrate of claim 8 wherein said indicator molecule is jS- galactosidase or luciferase. 10. A substrate for cleavage by a herpes virus proteinase, said substrate comprising a polypeptide containing an amino acid sequence Tyr-aa 4 -aa s -Ala-aa 6 wherein aa 4 is Val or Leu, aas is Lys or Gin and a^ is Ser or Asn, wherein said proteinase cleaves said substrate on the carboxy terminal side of the Ala residue, and wherein said substrate is substantially free of primary translation product of the gene encoding said proteinase. 11. The substrate of claim 10 wherein a * is Leu, aa 5 is Lys or Gin and aa^ is Ser. 12. The substrate of claim 10 wherein said polypeptide contains the amino acid sequence Tyr-Val-Lys-Ala-Ser. 13. The substrate of claim 10 wherein said polypeptide is linked to a fluorescent moiety and a quenching moiety, said moieties being separated by said polypeptide. 1.4. The substrate of claim 10 wherein said polypeptide is labeled with a radioactive moiety. 15. The substrate of claim 10 wherein an enzyme is linked to said polypeptide, said polypeptide sterically inhibiting said enzyme. 16. The substrate of claim 15 wherein a substrate for said enzyme is linked to the polypeptide. 17. The substrate of claim 10 wherein the amino acid sequence contained in said peptide is within an indicator molecule. 18. The substrate of claim 17 wherein said indicator molecule is β- galactosidase or luciferase. 19. A kit for measuring activity of a herpes vims proteinase, comprising: a proteinase encoded by a herpes vims; and a substrate for cleavage by said proteinase, said substrate comprising a polypeptide containing an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of aa,-aa 2 -Ala-aa 3 and wherein aa, is Val or Leu, aa 2 is a polar amino acid, aa 3 is Ser, Val, or Asn, aa 4 is Val or Leu, aa 5 is Lys or Gin and aaβ is Ser or Asn, wherein said proteinase cleaves said substrate on the carboxy terminal side of the Ala residue, said kit being substantially free of intact infectious herpes vims. 20. The kit of claim 20 wherein said substrate comprises a polypeptide containing the sequence aa,-aa 2 -Ala-aa 3 . 21. The kit of claim 20 wherein said polypeptide contains the amino acid sequence Val-Asn-Ala-Ser. 22. The kit of claim 20 wherein said substrate comprises a polypeptide containing the sequence Tyr-aaraas-Ala-aa,.. 23. The kit of claim 22 wherein aa 4 is Leu, aa^ is Lys or Gin and aaβ is Ser. 24. The kit of claim 22 wherein said polypeptide contains the amino acid sequence Tyr-Val-Lys-Ala-Ser. 25. The kit of claim 19 wherein said proteinase and said substrate for cleavage are co-expressed in a mammalian cell which is free of a herpes vims infection, and cleavage of said substrate occurs in the mammalian cell. 26. The kit of claim 19 wherein said proteinase and said substrate contacted in vitro. 27. The kit of claim 19 wherein said proteinase and said substrate are expressed in vitro. 28. The kit of claim 19 wherein said proteinase and said substrate are expressed in separate cells. 29. The kit of claim 19 wherein said proteinase and said substrate are expressed in mammalian cells. 30. The kit of claim 19 wherein said proteinase and said substrate are expressed in bacterial cells. 31. The kit of claim 19 wherein said proteinase and said substrate are expressed in yeast cells. 32. The kit of claim 19 wherein said proteinase and said substrate are expressed in insect cells. 33. The kit of claim 19 wherein said proteinase and said substrate are expressed chemically, or by in vitro transcription and translation. 34. A method for measuring activity of a herpes vims proteinase, comprising the steps of: contacting a proteinase encoded by a herpes vims with a substrate for cleavage by said proteinase, said substrate comprising a polypeptide containing an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of aa 1 -aa 2 -Ala-aa 3 and Tyr-aa 4 ~ aaj-Ala-aa*, wherein a j is Val or Leu, aa is a polar amino acid, aa 3 is Ser, Val, or Asn, aa« is Val or Leu, aa 5 is Lys or Gin and aaβ is Ser or Asn, wherein said proteinase cleaves said substrate on the carboxy terminal side of the Ala residue, said step of contacting occurring in the absence of a intact infectious herpes vims virion DNA; and monitoring cleavage of said substrate. 35. The method of claim 34 wherein the step of monitoring comprises determining a change in size of said substrate. 36. The method of claim 35 wherein said determining is done by observing an altered migration of said substrate on an electrophoretic gel matrix. 37. The method of claim 35 wherein said determining is done by observing an altered mobility of said substrate on a chromatography medium. 38. The method of claim 34 wherein the step of monitoring comprises monitoring a change in fluorescence of said substrate. 39. The method of claim 34 wherein the substrate is attached to a radiolabelled moiety. 40. The method of claim 39 wherein the step of monitoring comprises determining a change in solvent extractability of the radiolabelled moiety. 41. The method of claim 34 wherein the substrate is attached to an enzyme and the step of monitoring comprises determining a colorimetric change. 42. The method of claim 34 further comprising the step of adding a test substance to said proteinase and substrate to determine the level of inhibition of the activity of said proteinase caused by said test substance. 43. A recombinant DNA molecule which encodes at least a portion of a herpes vims proteinase, said portion having the ability to cleave a herpes vims assembly protein precursor. 44. The DNA molecule of claim 43 wherein the portion of the proteinase comprises amino acids numbered 1 through 249 of simian cytomegalovims Colbum APNGl protein or the homologous amino acids of another herpes vims. 45. The DNA molecule of claim 43 wherein the. portion of the proteinase comprises amino acids numbered 1 through 280 simian cytomegalovims Colbum APNG1 protein or the homologous amino acids of another herpes vims. 46. The DNA molecule of claim 43 wherein the portion of the proteinase comprises the first 234 to 262 amino acids of the primary translation product of a homolog of the APNGl gene of similar cytomegalovims Colbum. 47. The DNA molecule of claim 43 wherein the portion of the proteinase lacks amino acids which comprise a herpes vims assembly protein precursor. 48. The DNA molecule of claim 43 which is capable of expressing said portion of the herpes vims proteinase in a host cell. 49. An inhibitor of a herpes vims proteinase comprising a derivative of the substrate of claim 2, said inhibitor differing from said substrate in the scissile peptide bond which is carboxyl to the Ala residue. 50. The inhibitor of claim 49 wherein the scissile peptide bond is replaced by a hydroxyethylamine linkage. 51. The inhibitor of claim 49 wherein the scissile peptide bond is replaced by a phosphonamide linkage. 52. The inhibitor of claim 49 wherein the scissile peptide bond is replaced by a carbon fluoride aldehyde. 53. The inhibitor of claim 49 wherein the scissile peptide bond is replaced by a dialcohol linkage. 54. An inhibitor of a herpes vims proteinase comprising a derivative of the substrate of claim 10, said inhibitor differing from said substrate in the scissile peptide bond which is carboxyl to the Ala residue. 55. The inhibitor of claim 54 wherein the scissile peptide bond is replaced by a hydroxyethylamine linkage. 56. The inhibitor of claim 49 wherein the scissile peptide bond is replaced by a phosphonamide linkage. 57. The inhibitor of claim 49 wherein the scissile peptide bond is replaced by a carbon fluoride aldehyde. 58. The inhibitor of claim 49 wherein the scissile peptide bond is replaced by a dialcohol linkage.

Inventors: GIBSON D WADE, WELCH ANTHONY R, GIBSON, D., WADE, WELCH, ANTHONY, R.
Applicants: UNIV JOHNS HOPKINS, THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
Application year: 1992
Main classification: C12Q1
IPC codes: A61K38, C07K7, C07K14, C12N9, C12N15, C12Q1, C12R1