SOLUBLE EXPRESSABLE SEQUENCE AND CRYSTAL STRUCTURE OF THE NUCLEASE DOMAIN OF THE TERMINASE COMPLEX OF THE HERPES VIRUS

摘要

The invention relates to peptides pertaining to the terminase complex of herpes viruses, preferably the UL89-C protein of cytomegalovirus. The invention also relates to the crystalline form of said peptides, and to the use of same for the screening and/or design of antiviral drugs for the treatment and/or prevention of infections caused by the herpes virus. The invention shows the generation of a soluble peptide comprising the C-terminal region of the UL89 protein (UL89-C) of the human cytomegalovirus. Said peptide maintains the nuclease activity of the complete UL89 protein, having a high solubility, which enables activity studies to be carried out more easily, thereby rendering said peptide highly applicable in the search for useful drugs for the treatment of infections produced by the herpes virus.