Human importin alpha and RNA do not compete for binding to influenza A virus nucleoprotein
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Meyerhofstrasse 1, 69117 Heidelberg (Germany)
- UJF-EMBL-CNRS UMI 3265, Unit of Virus Host-Cell Interactions, 6 rue Jules Horowitz, 38042 Grenoble Cedex 9 (France)
- Inserm, U851, Lyon (France)
Influenza virus has a segmented genome composed of eight negative stranded RNA segments. Each segment is covered with NP forming ribonucleoproteins (vRNPs) and carries a copy of the heterotrimeric polymerase complex. As a rare phenomenon among the RNA viruses, the viral replication occurs in the nucleus and therefore implies interactions between host and viral factors, such as between importin alpha and nucleoprotein. In the present study we report that through binding with the human nuclear receptor importin {alpha}5 (Imp{alpha}5), the viral NP is no longer oligomeric but maintained as a monomer inside the complex. In this regard, Imp{alpha}5 acts as a chaperone until NP is delivered in the nucleus for viral RNA encapsidation. Moreover, we show that the association of NP with the host transporter does not impair the binding of NP to RNA. The complex human Imp{alpha}5-NP binds RNA with the same affinity as wt NP alone, whereas engineered monomeric NP through point mutations binds RNA with a strongly reduced affinity.
- OSTI ID:
- 21486913
- Journal Information:
- Virology, Vol. 409, Issue 1; Other Information: DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2010.10.001; PII: S0042-6822(10)00637-9; Copyright (c) 2010 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; ISSN 0042-6822
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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