A Capsid-Encoded PPxY-Motif Facilitates Adenovirus Entry

Wodrich, Harald; Henaff, Daniel; Jammart, Baptist; Segura-Morales, Carolina; Seelmeir, Sigrid; Coux, Olivier; Ruzsics, Zsolt; Wiethoff, Christopher M.; Kremer, Eric J.

Many viruses use the microtubule network of the host cell for transport to their site of replication (i.e. the nucleus) [1] . Access to the microtubule network is achieved through recruitment of cytoplasmic dynein motor proteins followed by efficient retrograde transport towards the nucleus [2, 3] . Virus-induced cellular signaling cascades help stimulate the directionality and efficacy of the transport [4] . Viral interaction with dynein motor proteins occurs either directly through capsid proteins or indirectly via hijacking of adapters from existing transport pathways [5] . Most DNA viruses accumulate transiently at the microtubule organizing center (MTOC) prior to nuclear translocation [1, 3, 6] . How they release from the microtubules or the MTOC and transport to nuclear pores is poorly understood. MTOC release may involve a switch from dynein to kinesin mediated transport, the cellular ubiquitin/ proteasome system and/or nuclear transport receptors [1, 3, [5] [6] [7] [8] .