Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 12, 2025
08:32
Dissecting Innate Immune Signaling in Viral Evasion of Cytokine Production
Published on: March 2, 2014
10.6K
The intersection of viral mimicry and nuclear entry
Claire F Dickson1, Prabhjeet Phalora1, David A Jacques1
1Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; EMBL Australia Node in Single Molecule Science, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Trends in Biochemical Sciences
|August 7, 2025
Summary
Viruses hijack nuclear transport by mimicking cellular components or transport receptors. Studying these viral strategies reveals new insights into nuclear pore complex function and nucleocytoplasmic transport.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Virology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- The nuclear pore complex (NPC) regulates essential nucleocytoplasmic transport.
- Viruses require nuclear access for replication, employing diverse strategies to achieve this.
- Common viral strategies include mimicking cellular cargo for transport.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review viral mechanisms for nuclear entry.
- To highlight the mimicry of nuclear transport receptors (NTRs) as a viral strategy.
- To discuss how viral interactions inform NPC and nucleocytoplasmic transport understanding.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of biochemical and virological studies.
- Analysis of viral protein complex and capsid interactions with the NPC.
- Synthesis of current knowledge on viral nuclear import pathways.
Main Results:
- Viruses utilize cargo mimicry and NTR mimicry to access the nucleus.
- Viral strategies offer alternative pathways for nuclear entry.
- These viral mechanisms provide insights into NPC selectivity and transport dynamics.
Conclusions:
- Viral mimicry strategies are crucial for understanding nuclear transport.
- Studying viral nuclear import reshapes our knowledge of the NPC.
- Viral interactions illuminate the complex mechanisms of nucleocytoplasmic transport.
Related Concept Videos
01:10Retrovirus Life Cycles
46.8K
Retroviruses have a single-stranded RNA genome that undergoes a special form of replication. Once the retrovirus has entered the host cell, an enzyme called reverse transcriptase synthesizes double-stranded DNA from the retroviral RNA genome. This DNA copy of the genome is then integrated into the host’s genome inside the nucleus via an enzyme called integrase. Consequently, the retroviral genome is transcribed into RNA whenever the host’s genome is transcribed, allowing the...
46.8K
00:56Viral Structure
63.8K
Viruses are extraordinarily diverse in shape and size, but they all have several structural features in common. All viruses have a core that contains a DNA- or RNA-based genome. The core is surrounded by a protective coat of proteins called the capsid. The capsid is composed of subunits called capsomeres. The capsid and genome-containing core are together known as the nucleocapsid.
63.8K
00:57Viral Recombination
23.8K
Cells are sometimes infected by more than one virus at once. When two viruses disassemble to expose their genomes for replication in the same cell, similar regions of their genomes can pair together and exchange sequences in a process called recombination. Alternatively, viruses with segmented genomes can swap segments in a process called reassortment.
23.8K
01:10Intracellular Movement of Viruses and Bacteria
2.9K
Intracellular bacteria and viruses often comprise a group of highly infectious pathogens that can cause several diseases. Bacterial pathogens include those belonging to the genus Rickettsia responsible for conditions such as rocky mountain spotted fever and the Mediterranean spotted fever; Chlamydia, a genus responsible for a sexually transmitted disease; Coxiella burnetii, an agent responsible for Q fever. Viral pathogens include vaccinia—a poxvirus, and herpes simplex virus—a...
2.9K
01:46Nuclear Localization Signals and Import
6.0K
Proteins targeted to the nucleus carry short stretches of amino acid sequences called the nuclear localization signal or NLS. Classical nuclear localization signals are of two types: monopartite and bipartite NLS. Monopartite classical NLS (cNLS) consists of a single cluster of 4-8 amino acids. Bipartite cNLS consists of two clusters of 2-3 amino acids and a 9-12 residue long proline-rich linker bridging the two clusters. Signal clusters are rich in positively charged amino acids such as...
6.0K
02:33Retroviruses
12.7K
Retroviruses and retrotransposons both insert copies of their genetic elements into the genome of the host cell. Thus, the viral genes are passed on when the host genome is replicated or translated. A typical retroviral DNA sequence contains 3-4 genes that encode the different proteins required for its structural assembly and function as a molecular parasite. This DNA is transcribed into a single mRNA, which is very similar in structure to conventional mRNAs, i.e., it is capped at the 5’...
12.7K