title: Infection of purified nuclei by adeno-associated virus 2.
abstract: Adeno-associated virus 2 (AAV), a nonpathogenic human parvovirus, requires co-infection with a helper virus for its optimal replication. Although AAV possesses a broad host range, certain cell types lack the machinery necessary for efficient entry into the cell and intracellular trafficking of AAV into the nucleus, where the viral second-strand DNA synthesis must occur before gene expression. We have demonstrated that in less-permissive mouse fibroblasts, the virus fails to transport to the nucleus due to altered endocytic processing. However, relatively little is known about the intracellular site of viral uncoating and transport of the virion across the nuclear envelope. Here, we provide evidence that AAV can efficiently enter intact nuclei purified from both permissive and less-permissive cell types. Furthermore, entry into the nucleus is time- and temperature-dependent, but is not saturable and seems to occur independently of the nuclear pore complex. We also demonstrate that purified nuclei contain all of the machinery necessary for uncoating and viral second-strand DNA synthesis even in the absence of a helper virus. These studies provide new insights into the basic biology of AAV and may also have implications for the optimal use of AAV vectors in human gene therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Qing
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Srivastava
mesh_terms: D016475:3T3 Cells; D000818:Animals; D001692:Biological Transport; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000229:Dependovirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D024202:Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D006378:Helper Viruses / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D022022:Nuclear Pore / Q000378:metabolism; D022021:Tacrolimus Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D022021:Tacrolimus Binding Proteins; C403485:tacrolimus binding protein 4