Herpes simplex virus 1 DNA packaging proteins encoded by UL6, UL15, UL17, UL28, and UL33 are located on the external surface of the viral capsid.

Studies to localize the herpes simplex virus 1 portal protein encoded by UL6, the putative terminase components encoded by UL15, UL 28, and UL33, the minor capsid proteins encoded by UL17, and the major scaffold protein ICP35 were conducted. ICP35 in B capsids was more resistant to trypsin digestion of intact capsids than pUL6, pUL15, pUL17, pUL28, or pUL33. ICP35 required sectioning of otherwise intact embedded capsids for immunoreactivity, whereas embedding and/or sectioning decreased the immunoreactivities of pUL6, pUL17, pUL28, and pUL33. Epitopes of pUL15 were recognized roughly equally well in both sectioned and unsectioned capsids. These data indicate that pUL6, pUL17, pUL28, pUL33, and at least some portion of pUL15 are located at the external surface of the capsid.