Intercellular trafficking activity of herpes simplex virus US11 gene product in the mouse brain

The US11 gene product of herpes simplex virus is an RNA-binding protein with a C-terminal arginine-X-proline (RXP) repeating motif. We found that the RXP repeat mediates intercellular trafficking activity and accumulation in neuronal nuclei following in vivo transfection with the US11 gene, direct injection of the purified RXP-repeat fusion protein, or infection with herpes simplex virus. We discuss a possible therapeutic application of the US11 protein RXP repeat as a tactic against neurodegenerative disorders of the central nervous system.