Intracellular compartmentalization of the glycoprotein B of herpesvirus Simian agent 8 expressed with a baculovirus vector in insect cells.

The intracellular localization of the glycoprotein B of herpesvirus simian agent 8 expressed with a baculovirus system in insect cells was studied. Cell fractionation and immunoprecipitation revealed that gB is present in microsomal as well as in nuclear membranes. Both fractions contain oligomers, probably dimers, of gB with endoglycosidase-H sensitive, mannose-rich carbohydrates. Nuclear transport of gB was further analysed by immuno electron microscopy of recombinant baculovirus-infected cells. The glycoprotein is present both in the outer and the inner nuclear membrane as well as in cytoplasmic structures and at the cell surface. This study precludes the possibility that glycosylation and/or oligomerisation of SA8 gB are responsible for nuclear targeting.