Transcriptional activator of immediate-early (IE) gene products (alpha genes). Acts as a key activator of lytic infection by initiating the lytic program through the assembly of the transcriptional regulatory VP16-induced complex composed of VP16 and two cellular factors, HCFC1 and POU2F 1. VP16-induced complex represents a regulatory switch: when it is on, it promotes IE-gene expression and thus lytic infection, and when it is off, it limits IE-gene transcription favoring latent infection.
May play a role in the aggregation of tegument proteins around nucleocapsids during virus morphogenesis.