Nucleo-Cytoplasmic Transport of ZIKV Non-Structural 3 Protein Is Mediated by Importin-α/β and Exportin CRM-1
Luis Adrián De Jesús‐González, Selvin Noé Palacios-Rápalo, José Manuel Reyes-Ruíz, Juan Fidel Osuna‐Ramos, Carlos Noe Farfán-Morales, Carlos Daniel Cordero‐Rivera, Bulmaro Cisneros, Ana Lorena Gutiérrez‐Escolano, Rosa María del Ángel
Abstract
Flaviviruses have a cytoplasmic replication cycle, but recent evidence indicates that nuclear elements play a role in their viral replication. Viral proteins, such as NS5 and C, are imported into the nucleus, and blocking their import prevents replication. Because of the importance of the nucleus in viral replication and the role of NS3 in the modification of nuclear components, we investigated whether NS3 can be localized in the nucleus during ZIKV infection. We found that NS3 is imported into the nucleus via the importin pathway and exported to the cytoplasm via CRM-1. The significance of viral protein nuclear import and export and its relationship with infection establishment is highlighted, emphasizing the development of new host-directed antiviral therapeutic strategies.