Nucleocytoplasmic Trafficking Perturbation Induced by Picornaviruses

Area of Science:

• Virology
• Molecular Biology
• Cell Biology

Background:

• Picornaviruses are positive-stranded RNA viruses with cytoplasmic replication.
• These viruses manipulate host cell machinery, specifically nucleocytoplasmic trafficking.
• Nuclear pore complex (NPC) and its FG-nucleoporins are key targets.

Purpose of the Study:

• To elucidate the mechanisms by which picornaviruses disrupt nucleocytoplasmic transport.
• To understand how FG-nucleoporins are affected by different picornavirus types.
• To determine the consequences of NPC disruption on host and viral processes.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of picornavirus strategies affecting nucleocytoplasmic trafficking.
• Investigation of FG-nucleoporin interactions with viral proteins.
• Examination of host protein and RNA localization changes during infection.

Main Results:

• Picornaviruses target FG-nucleoporins within the NPC central channel.
• Enteroviruses degrade FG-nucleoporins via 2A protease; cardioviruses induce phosphorylation.
• Disruption leads to nuclear protein recruitment to the cytoplasm, enhancing viral replication.
• Inhibition of host transcription factor nuclear import and retention of host mRNA in the nucleus.

Conclusions:

• Picornaviruses employ distinct strategies to manipulate the NPC and FG-nucleoporins.
• NPC targeting facilitates viral replication and suppresses host innate immunity.
• Altered nucleocytoplasmic transport is crucial for picornavirus life cycle and host immune evasion.