Processing of the herpes simplex virus type 2 glycoprotein gG-2 results in secretion of a 34,000-Mr cleavage product.

Herpes simplex virus type 2 glycoprotein gG-2 undergoes a cleavage event during its synthesis and processing. The focus of this report is on the detection and fate of the small-molecular-weight component of gG-2, designated the 34K component. In cultures containing the inhibitor monensin, a 31K component accumulated within infected cells. In contrast, the intracellular accumulation of this 31K precursor was not detected in cultures grown in the absence of the inhibitor. However, the 34K component of gG-2 was found in the extracellular culture fluid. The data suggest that the 31K high-mannose cleavage product of gG-2 is further glycosylated and rapidly secreted from herpes simplex virus type 2-infected cells; however, if glycosylation is perturbed, the 31K high-mannose form remains cell associated.