The ULb' region of the human cytomegalovirus genome confers an increased requirement for the viral protein kinase UL97

We report a requirement for the viral protein kinase UL97 in human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) replication that maps to the ULb′ region of the viral genome. A UL97-null (Δ97) mutant of strain TB40/E, which encodes a full-length ULb′ region, exhibited replication defects, particularly in production of cell-free virus, that were more severe than those seen with a Δ97 mutant of laboratory strain AD169, which harbors extensive deletions in its ULb′ region. These differences were recapitulated with additional HCMV strains by treatment with a UL97 kinase inhibitor, 1-(β- l -ribofuranosyl)-2-isopropylamino-5,6-dichlorobenzimidazole (maribavir). We observed lower levels of viral DNA synthesis and an increased requirement for UL97 in viral late gene expression in strains with full-length ULb′ regions. Analysis of UL97-deficient TB40/E infections by electron microscopy revealed fewer C-capsids in nuclei, unusual viral particles in the cytoplasmic assembly compartment, and defective viral nuclear egress. Partial inhibition of viral DNA synthesis caused defects in production of cell-free virus that were up to ∼100-fold greater than those seen with cell-associated virus in strains TB40/E and TR, suggesting that UL97-dependent defects in cell-free virus production in strains with full-length ULb′ regions were secondary to DNA synthesis defects. Accordingly, a chimeric virus in which the ULb′ region of TB40/E was replaced with that of AD169 showed reduced effects of UL97 inhibition on viral DNA synthesis, late gene expression, and production of cell-free virus compared to parental TB40/E. Together, these results argue that the ULb′ region encodes a factor(s) which invokes an increased requirement for UL97 during viral DNA synthesis.