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Virus strategies for passing the nuclear envelope barrier
Oren Kobiler1, Nir Drayman, Veronika Butin-Israeli
1Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Nucleus (Austin, Tex.)
|August 30, 2012
Summary
Viruses entering the nucleus must cross the nuclear envelope. This review details how seven virus families, including herpesviruses and lentiviruses, overcome this barrier, with some potentially bypassing nuclear pores.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- The nuclear envelope presents a significant barrier for viruses that replicate within the nucleus.
- Understanding viral nuclear entry mechanisms is crucial for comprehending infection dynamics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review strategies employed by seven distinct virus families to penetrate the nuclear envelope.
- To highlight nuclear entry as a potential target for antiviral therapies.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of viral nuclear entry mechanisms.
- Analysis of strategies used by herpesviridae, adenoviridae, orthomyxoviridae, lentiviruses, Hepadnaviridae, parvoviridae, and polyomaviridae.
Main Results:
- Most viruses utilize the nuclear pore complex (NPC) for genome entry.
- Larger viral capsids often disassemble before or during NPC transit.
- Parvoviruses and polyomaviruses may possess mechanisms to traffic directly through the nuclear membrane, bypassing the NPC.
Conclusions:
- Nuclear entry is a critical, often rate-limiting, step in viral infection.
- Novel viral entry pathways, such as direct nuclear membrane trafficking, warrant further investigation.
- Targeting viral nuclear entry presents a promising avenue for antiviral drug development.
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