Biochemical and Biophysical Properties of a Putative Hub Protein Expressed by Vaccinia Virus

H5 is a constitutively expressed, phosphorylated vaccinia virus protein that has been implicated in viral DNA replication, post-replicative gene expression, and virus assembly. For the purpose of understanding the role of H5 in vaccinia biology, we have characterized its biochemical and biophysical properties. Previously, we have demonstrated that H5 is associated with an endoribonucleolytic activity. In this study, we have shown that this cleavage results in a 3'-OH end suitable for polyadenylation of the nascent transcript, corroborating a role for H5 in vaccinia transcription termination. Furthermore, we have shown that H5 is intrinsically disordered, with an elongated rod-shaped structure that preferentially binds double-stranded nucleic acids in a sequence nonspecific manner. The dynamic phosphorylation status of H5 influences this structure and has implications for the role of H5 in multiple processes during virus replication.