Nuclear transport of baculovirus: revealing the nuclear pore complex passage. 2012

Shelly Au, and Nelly Panté
Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, 6270 University Boulevard, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z4.

Baculoviruses are one of the largest viruses that replicate in the nucleus of their host cells. During an infection the capsid, containing the DNA viral genome, is released into the cytoplasm and delivers the genome into the nucleus by a mechanism that is largely unknown. Here, we used capsids of the baculovirus Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus in combination with electron microscopy and discovered this capsid crosses the NPC and enters into the nucleus intact, where it releases its genome. To better illustrate the existence of this capsid through the NPC in its native conformation, we reconstructed the nuclear import event using electron tomography. In addition, using different experimental conditions, we were able to visualize the intact capsid interacting with NPC cytoplasmic filaments, as an initial docking site, and midway through the NPC. Our data suggests the NPC central channel undergoes large-scale rearrangements to allow translocation of the intact 250-nm long baculovirus capsid. We discuss our results in the light of the hypothetical models of NPC function.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009865 Oocytes Female germ cells derived from OOGONIA and termed OOCYTES when they enter MEIOSIS. The primary oocytes begin meiosis but are arrested at the diplotene state until OVULATION at PUBERTY to give rise to haploid secondary oocytes or ova (OVUM). Ovocytes,Oocyte,Ovocyte
D002213 Capsid The outer protein protective shell of a virus, which protects the viral nucleic acid. Capsids are composed of repeating units (capsomers or capsomeres) of CAPSID PROTEINS which when assembled together form either an icosahedral or helical shape. Procapsid,Prohead,Capsids,Procapsids,Proheads
D003593 Cytoplasm The part of a cell that contains the CYTOSOL and small structures excluding the CELL NUCLEUS; MITOCHONDRIA; and large VACUOLES. (Glick, Glossary of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 1990) Protoplasm,Cytoplasms,Protoplasms
D004279 DNA, Viral Deoxyribonucleic acid that makes up the genetic material of viruses. Viral DNA
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D014982 Xenopus laevis The commonest and widest ranging species of the clawed "frog" (Xenopus) in Africa. This species is used extensively in research. There is now a significant population in California derived from escaped laboratory animals. Platanna,X. laevis,Platannas,X. laevi
D016367 Baculoviridae Family of INSECT VIRUSES which contain polyhedron-shaped or ovocylindrical occlusion bodies. The genera include ALPHABACULOVIRUS; GAMMABACULOVIRUS; and DELTABACULOVIRUS (commonly known as NUCLEOPOLYHEDROVIRUSES) and BETABACULOVIRUS (commonly known as GRANULOVIRUSES). Baculovirus vectors are used for expression of foreign genes in insects and as BIOPESTICIDES for controlling insect populations. Baculovirus,Baculoviruses
D055032 Electron Microscope Tomography A tomographic technique for obtaining 3-dimensional images with transmission electron microscopy. Electron Tomography,Tomography, Electron,Tomography, Electron Microscope,EM Tomography,Electron Microtomography,STEM Tomography,Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy Tomography,TEM Tomography,Transmission Electron Microscopy Tomography,Transmission Electron Microtomography,Electron Microtomography, Transmission,Microscope Tomography, Electron,Microtomography, Electron,Microtomography, Transmission Electron,Tomography, EM,Tomography, STEM,Tomography, TEM
D021581 Active Transport, Cell Nucleus Gated transport mechanisms by which proteins or RNA are moved across the NUCLEAR MEMBRANE. Nuclear Export,Nuclear Import,Nuclear Transport,Nucleocytoplasmic Transport,Nucleo-cytoplasmic Transport,Export, Nuclear,Import, Nuclear,Nucleo cytoplasmic Transport,Transport, Nuclear,Transport, Nucleo-cytoplasmic,Transport, Nucleocytoplasmic,Transports, Nucleo-cytoplasmic
D022022 Nuclear Pore An opening through the NUCLEAR ENVELOPE formed by the nuclear pore complex which transports nuclear proteins or RNA into or out of the CELL NUCLEUS and which, under some conditions, acts as an ion channel. Nuclear Pore Complex,Nuclear Pores,Pore, Nuclear,Pores, Nuclear

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