Abstract

Typical viral propagation involves sequential viral entry, uncoating, replication, gene transcription and protein synthesis, and virion assembly and release. Some viral proteins must be transported into host nucleus to facilitate viral propagation, which is essential for the production of mature virions. During the transport process, nuclear localization signals (NLSs) play an important role in guiding target proteins into nucleus through the nuclear pore. To date, some classical nuclear localization signals (cNLSs) and non-classical NLSs (ncNLSs) have been identified in a number of viral proteins. These proteins are involved in viral replication, expression regulation of viral genes and virion assembly. Moreover, other proteins are transported into nucleus with unknown mechanisms. This review highlights our current knowledge about the nuclear trafficking of cellular proteins associated with viral propagation.

Highlights

  • Nuclear trafficking of cellular proteins is critical for the regulation of cellular processes, includingDNA replication, transcriptional regulation, gene expression, signal transduction and apoptosis [1].the double-membraned nuclear envelope restricts macromolecular movement between the cytoplasmic and nuclear compartments in eukaryotic cells [2]

  • Nuclear import of numerous proteins is mainly mediated by nuclear localization signals (NLSs), and these trafficking events are essential for expression regulation of functional proteins in biological processes, such as cell-cycle progression, signal transduction, viral infection and the replication cycle of diverse viruses [9,10,11,12]

  • We summarize the current knowledge about nuclear import of proteins involved in viral propagation, which may help us to better understand the molecular pathogenesis of viruses

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Summary

Introduction

Nuclear trafficking of cellular proteins is critical for the regulation of cellular processes, including. The series of events in viral infection, such as viral replication, transcription and assembly, usually occur in the cell nucleus [5], while translation, post-translational modification and protein degradation usually occur in the cytoplasm [6,7,8]. It is evident that nuclear transport signals play an important role in these processes To their own advantage, the recruitment of some cellular cofactors is required to ensure the occurrence of cellular events during viral propagation. Nuclear import of numerous proteins is mainly mediated by nuclear localization signals (NLSs), and these trafficking events are essential for expression regulation of functional proteins in biological processes, such as cell-cycle progression, signal transduction, viral infection and the replication cycle of diverse viruses [9,10,11,12]. We summarize the current knowledge about nuclear import of proteins involved in viral propagation, which may help us to better understand the molecular pathogenesis of viruses

Diversity of NLSs Identified in Viral Proteins
Nuclear Import of the Viral Genome
Requirements for the Localization of Viral Self-Encoded DNA Polymerase
Replication of Double-Stranded DNA Viruses in the Cytoplasm
Replication of dsDNA Viruses in Host Cell Nuclei
Replication of ssDNA Viruses in Host Cell Nuclei
Mechanism of Nuclear Import of Viral Proteins Lacking NLSs
Conclusions and Future Studies

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