Die komplexe Fusionsmaschinerie der Herpesviren

Enveloped viruses enter cells by fusion between viral and cellular membranes which is catalyzed by specialized fusogenic glycoproteins (g) on the viral surface. Many viruses use a single fusion protein for entry. In contrast, herpesviruses depend on a complex fusion machinery. Here, we discuss the role of the individual herpesvirus fusion machinery components and answer two basic questions: why does the herpesvirus fusion protein gB depend on other glycoproteins for fusion, and can gB be transformed to function autonomously?