Association of the herpes simplex virus major tegument structural protein VP22 with chromatin

The abundant tegument protein VP22 has homologs throughout the alphaherpesvirus family. Numerous groups have been involved in the examination of these homologs, trying to decipher their multiple functions. Investigations early on indicated that VP22 associates with chromatin and further evidence has accumulated in recent years, correlating this protein with chromatin and its components. Ongoing and future studies will determine whether this association with chromatin is specific and whether it serves a function during infection in a physiologically relevant setting.