Generation and properties of the glycoprotein E-related 32K/34K/35K and 55K/57K polypeptides encoded by herpes simplex virus type 1.

A hybridoma line was isolated which produced antibody reacting with polypeptides of apparent molecular weights 32,000, 34,000 and 35,000 (32K/34K/35K) and 55,000 and 57,000 (55K/57K). These were sulphated glycoproteins that have previously been found in the medium of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1)-infected cells. By tryptic peptide mapping and serological cross-reactions the polypeptides were shown to be related to HSV-1 glycoprotein E (gE-1) but they lacked the Fc binding function. The 32K/34K/35K and 55K/57K polypeptides were not found in the medium of HSV-1-infected cells incubated in serum-free medium. They could be generated in vitro from purified gE-1 in the presence of serum. It is likely that 32K/34K/35K and 55K/57K are derived from gE-1 by the action of serum proteases.