Human cytomegalovirus immediate early protein 1 (IE1)

Human cytomegalovirus immediate early protein 1 (IE1) is a 491 amino acid, nuclear regulatory phosphoprotein that is abundantly expressed at the onset of infection. IE1 is a multifunctional protein critical for initiating lytic infection, reactivating from latency, and modulating host cell environment to favor viral replication. It acts as a promiscuous transcriptional regulator, modifying chromatin to activate viral and host genes, dampening host immune responses through disruption of PML nuclear bodies and by manipulating STAT signaling pathways. The protein contains distinct regions including a chromatin tethering domain (CTD) required for mitotic chromosome association, mapped to exon 4, which is critical for chromatin attachment and immune evasion. IE1’s structure is unique among viral proteins and has evolved specifically to neutralize cellular defense mechanisms, particularly PML nuclear bodies and associated factors.

Other names

IE1IE1-72kDaImmediate-early protein 1UL123

NA; no approved drugs directly target IE1