ORF43 portal protein of 605 aas. It forms a portal in the viral capsid through which viral DNA is translocated during DNA packaging. It assembles as a dodecamer at a single fivefold axe of the T=16 icosahedric capsid and binds to the molecular motor that translocates the viral DNA, termed terminase, The KSHV icosahedral capsid includes a portal vertex, composed of 12 protein subunits encoded by open reading frame (ORF) 43, which enables packaging and release of the viral genome into the nucleus through the nuclear pore complex (NPC) (Dünn-Kittenplon et al. 2021). ORF43 enables packaging and release of the viral genome into the nucleus through the nuclear pore complex (NPC). Capsid vertex-specific component (CVSC) tegument proteins, which directly mediate docking at the NPCs, are organized on the capsid vertices and are enriched on the portal vertex. The portal vertex of KSHV promotes docking of capsids at nuclear pores (Dünn-Kittenplon et al. 2021). The tegument proteins (e.g., E5LBZ1) directly mediates docking at the NPC.