Adenovirus Core Protein pVII Is Translocated into the Nucleus by Multiple Import Receptor Pathways

• DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00850-06
• Publication Date: 2006-09-14T03:35:27Z
• Authors: Harald Wodrich; Aurelia Cassany; Maximiliano A. D'...; Tinglu Guan; Glen Nemerow; Larry Gerace
• Keywords: Importin; NLS

ABSTRACT Adenoviruses are nonenveloped viruses with an ∼36-kb double-stranded DNA genome that replicate in the nucleus. Protein VII, abundant structural component of adenovirus core is strongly associated DNA, imported into nucleus contemporaneously shortly after virus infection and may promote import. In this study, we evaluated whether protein VII uses specific receptor-mediated mechanisms for import We found it contains potent nuclear localization signal (NLS) activity by transfection cultured cells fusion constructs microinjection recombinant fusions. identified three NLS-containing regions deletion mapping determined important NLS residues site-specific mutagenesis. its domains specifically bind to importin α, β, 7, transportin, which among most cellular receptors. Moreover, these receptors can mediate fusions vitro permeabilized cells. Considered together, data support hypothesis a major adaptor multiple pathways utilized efficient entry viral genome.