title: Baculovirus nuclear import: open, nuclear pore complex (NPC) sesame.
abstract: Baculoviruses are one of the largest viruses that replicate in the nucleus of their host cells. During infection, the rod-shape, 250-nm long nucleocapsid delivers its genome into the nucleus. Electron microscopy evidence suggests that baculoviruses, specifically the Alphabaculoviruses (nucleopolyhedroviruses) and the Betabaculoviruses (granuloviruses), have evolved two very distinct modes for doing this. Here we review historical and current experimental results of baculovirus nuclear import studies, with an emphasis on electron microscopy studies employing the prototypical baculovirus Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus infecting cultured cells. We also discuss the implications of recent studies towards theories of nuclear transport mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, 6270 University Boulevard, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada.
authors.forename: Shelly
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Au
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Nelly
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Panté
mesh_terms: D021581:Active Transport, Cell Nucleus; D000818:Animals; D016367:Baculoviridae / Q000502:physiology*; D002460:Cell Line; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008954:Models, Biological; D022022:Nuclear Pore / Q000378:metabolism*