Infected cell protein 27 (ICP27) (ICP27)

Infected cell protein 27 (ICP27) is an essential immediate-early regulatory protein encoded by the UL54 gene of Herpes Simplex Virus 1 (HSV-1) (UniProt: P04488). It plays a pivotal role in the viral life cycle by coordinating the transition from early to late gene expression and is required for efficient viral DNA replication (PubMed: 10906191). ICP27 is a multifunctional protein that inhibits host cell pre-mRNA splicing and promotes the nuclear export of intronless viral mRNAs by interacting with the host export receptor NXF1 (PubMed: 12050371). By redirecting the cellular machinery toward viral protein synthesis, it facilitates robust viral production while suppressing host immune responses. Because of its essentiality for viral replication, ICP27 is a significant target for the development of novel antiviral therapies and is frequently utilized in the engineering of replication-defective HSV vectors for gene therapy (PubMed: 15140981). Research into small molecule inhibitors and antisense strategies aims to disrupt its RNA-binding or export functions to treat HSV-1 infections.

Other names

UL54Immediate-early protein 63IE63Regulatory protein ICP27Protein UL54

Inhibition of viral mRNA nuclear export and disruption of viral gene expression regulatory cycles