Leclerc D, Chapdelaine Y, Hohn T
Friedrich Miescher Institut, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland.
J Virol. 1999 Jan;73(1):553-60. doi: 10.1128/JVI.73.1.553-560.1999.
The entry of the viral genomic DNA of cauliflower mosaic virus into the nucleus is a critical step of viral infection. We have shown by transient expression in plant protoplasts that the viral coat protein (CP), which is processed from the product of open reading frame IV, contains an N-terminal nuclear localization signal (NLS). The NLS is exposed on the surface of the virion and is thus available for interaction with a putative NLS receptor. Phosphorylation of the matured CP did not influence the nuclear localization of the protein but improved protein stability. Mutation of the NLS completely abolished viral infectivity, thus indicating its importance in the virus life cycle. The NLS seems to be regulated by the N terminus of the precapsid, which inhibits its nuclear targeting. This regulation could be important in allowing virus assembly in the cytoplasm.
花椰菜花叶病毒的病毒基因组DNA进入细胞核是病毒感染的关键步骤。我们通过在植物原生质体中的瞬时表达表明,从开放阅读框IV的产物加工而来的病毒外壳蛋白(CP)含有一个N端核定位信号(NLS)。该NLS暴露在病毒粒子表面,因此可用于与假定的NLS受体相互作用。成熟CP的磷酸化不影响该蛋白的核定位,但提高了蛋白稳定性。NLS的突变完全消除了病毒的感染性,从而表明其在病毒生命周期中的重要性。NLS似乎受前衣壳N端的调节,前衣壳N端抑制其核靶向。这种调节对于允许病毒在细胞质中组装可能很重要。