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Viral infection

Viruses unveil the mechanisms of nuclear entry

Nature Reviews Microbiology volume 21, page 632 (2023)Cite this article

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The nuclear envelope functions largely to protect the genetic material of a cell from the rest of the cellular contents. As obligate intracellular parasites, most viruses with DNA genomes have evolved unique mechanisms to breach this barrier and reach the nucleus where viral replication occurs.

Molecules (and viruses) destined for the nucleus are typically transported into the organelle through highly specific interactions with nuclear pore complexes spanning the nuclear envelope. It was once unclear how these pores correctly identify proteins fated for nuclear entry. Surprisingly, the answer to this question was revealed through the study of a viral pathogen adept at hijacking cellular functions to cause infection.

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References

Original articles

  • Kalderon, D. et al. Sequence requirements for nuclear location of simian virus 40 large-T antigen. Nature 311, 33–38 (1984)

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  • Kalderon, D. et al. A short amino acid sequence able to specify nuclear localization. Cell 39, 499–509 (1984)

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Chelsey C. Spriggs

  2. Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Chelsey C. Spriggs

  3. Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Chelsey C. Spriggs

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  1. Chelsey C. Spriggs
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Correspondence to Chelsey C. Spriggs.

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The author declares no competing interests.

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Spriggs, C.C. Viruses unveil the mechanisms of nuclear entry. Nat Rev Microbiol 21, 632 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41579-023-00940-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41579-023-00940-z

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