Localization of adenovirus morphogenesis players, together with visualization of assembly intermediates and failed products, favor a model where assembly and packaging occur concurrently at the periphery of the replication center

PLoS Pathogens

Carmen San Martín¹  Gabriela N. Condezo¹ 

[1] Department of Macromolecular Structures, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CNB-CSIC), Madrid, Spain

关键词: Viral packaging;    Viral core;    Virions;    Viral replication;    Bromodeoxyuridine labeling;    DNA replication;    Viral genomics;    Adenoviruses;   

DOI  :  10.1371/journal.ppat.1006320

学科分类：生物科学（综合）

来源: Public Library of Science

【 摘 要 】

Adenovirus (AdV) morphogenesis is a complex process, many aspects of which remain unclear. In particular, it is not settled where in the nucleus assembly and packaging occur, and whether these processes occur in a sequential or a concerted manner. Here we use immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy (immunoEM) to trace packaging factors and structural proteins at late times post infection by either wildtype virus or a delayed packaging mutant. We show that representatives of all assembly factors are present in the previously recognized peripheral replicative zone, which therefore is the AdV assembly factory. Assembly intermediates and abortive products observed in this region favor a concurrent assembly and packaging model comprising two pathways, one for capsid proteins and another one for core components. Only when both pathways are coupled by correct interaction between packaging proteins and the genome is the viral particle produced. Decoupling generates accumulation of empty capsids and unpackaged cores.

【 授权许可】

CC BY