Expression of the HSV-1 capsid protein VP19C in Escherichia coli: a single amino acid change overcomes an expression block of the full-length polypeptide.

The herpesvirus triplex is a key structural feature of the capsids of these viruses. It is composed of a hetero-trimer of one molecule of VP19C and two molecules of VP23. It acts to stabilize capsid shells by connecting the capsomeric subunits together.