Small dense nuclear bodies are the site of localization of herpes simplex virus 1 U(L)3 and U(L)4 proteins and of ICP22 only when the latter protein is present.

The herpes simplex virus 1 U(L)3 and U(L)4 open reading frames are expressed late in infection and are not essential for viral replication in cultured cells in vitro. An earlier report showed that the U(L)4 protein colocalizes with the products of the alpha22/U(S)1.5 genes in small nuclear dense bodies. Here we report that the U(L)3 protein also colocalized in these small nuclear dense bodies and the localization of U(L)3 and U(L)4 proteins in these bodies required the presence of alpha22/U(S)1.5 genes. In cells infected with a mutant lacking intact alpha22/U(S)1.5 genes, U(L)3 was diffused throughout the nucleus even though the overall accumulation of the gamma2 U(L)3 protein was decreased. The results suggest that ICP22 acts both as a regulator of U(L)3 accumulation and as the structural component and anchor of these small dense nuclear bodies.