VZV gI

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV), the etiologic agent of varicella (chickenpox) and zoster (shingles), is an exclusively human pathogen and a member of the Herpesviridae family of enveloped DNA viruses. Herpesviruses cause both lytic and latent infections. Lytic infection requires membrane fusion, an event governed by a core complex consisting of conserved glycoproteins gB, gH, and gL. Along with membrane fusion, VZV gH and gL are also involved in virus egress and are essential for virus replication.

Varicella-Zoster Virus glycoprotein gI

In epithelial cells, the heterodimer gE/gI is required for the cell-to-cell spread of the virus, by sorting nascent virions to cell junctions. Once the virus reaches the cell junctions, virus particles can spread to adjacent cells extremely rapidly through interactions with cellular receptors that accumulate at these junctions. Implicated in basolateral spread in polarized cells. In neuronal cells, gE/gI is essential for the anterograde spread of the infection throughout the host nervous system. Together with US9, the heterodimer gE/gI is involved in the sorting and transport of viral structural components toward axon tips (By similarity).
The heterodimer gE/gI serves as a receptor for the Fc part of human IgG. Dissociation of gE/gI from IgG occurs at acidic pH. May thus be involved in anti-VZV antibodies bipolar bridging, followed by intracellular endocytosis and degradation, thereby interfering with host Ig-mediated immune responses (By similarity).

Biological Process mitigation of host antiviral defense response Source:UniProtKB-KW

Virion membrane
Host cell membrane
Host cell junction
Host Golgi apparatus membrane
During virion morphogenesis, this protein probably accumulates in the endosomes and trans-Golgi where secondary envelopment occurs. It is probably transported to the cell surface from where it is endocytosed and directed to the trans-Golgi network (TGN). The heterodimer gE/gI then redistribute to cell junctions to promote cell-cell spread later in the infection (By similarity).

Virion surface: 18-295
Helical: 296-312
Intravirion: 313-354