The role of cytoskeleton and nuclear matrix in virus replication

In the light of the cytoarchitecture concept, the presented review attempts to cover what is known of the involvement of cytoskeletal and nucleoskeletal elements in the replication cycle of various viruses and in cell transformation. Our knowledge on the relationship of virus replication with cell architecture has rapidly progressed during the recent years in association with studies on composition of various filaments within cells, their spatial organization and possible functions which focussed much interest on the cytoskeleton and nuclear matrix. The new results indicated that highly specialized elements for normal cell function may be coopted for virus growth. Recently, using various methodical approaches it has been possible to obtain information about the association of virus-structural proteins with cytoskeletal and nucleoskeletal elements, about the reorganization of cytoskeleton during virus replication, about the role of tubulin in transcription and RNA synthesis of negative-strand viruses, about the involvement of cytoskeletal filaments in the transport of viral proteins, virus penetration, virus assembly and release from the infected cell. The role of cytoskeleton in cell transformation and in initiation of DNA synthesis and intracellular signaling to cell proliferation has been also investigated.