RELEVANCE OF THE CELL NUCLEUS IN CORONAVIRUS RNA SYNTHESIS

All positive strand RNA viruses that infect animals replicate in the cytoplasm of the infected host cell. However, there is ample evidence that implicated the nucleus and nuclear proteins in the replication and pathogenesis of positive-strand RNA viruses, including coronaviruses. The replication of these RNA viruses in enucleated cells is variable, ranging from 10% to 100% of that in nucleated controls. The relocation of nuclear proteins to the cytoplasm and of viral proteins to the nucleus during virus replication highlights the relevance of this organelle during the coronavirus infectious cycle and raises important question: What is the role of nuclear factors in the replication of these viruses, and do viral proteins traveling to the nucleus participate in RTC activity?