Abstract
The matrix 1 (M1) protein is a multifunctional protein in the life cycle of influenza virus. It plays an important role in virus budding and intracellular trafficking of viral ribonucleoproteins (vRNPs). The M1 protein consists of three domains based on the structure: N-terminal domain, Middle domain, and C-terminal domain. However, the functions of different domains of the M1 protein remain largely unclear. In this study, using bimolecular fluorescence complementation assays (BIFC) we demonstrated that swine importin α1 interacts with the M1 protein and transports it to the nucleus. Interestingly, M1 with mutated nuclear localization signal (NLS; 101-RKLKR-105 to 101-AALAA-105) still interacts with swine importin α1 and is localized in the nucleus, suggesting that the NLS located at residues 101-105 is not the only NLS within M1 recombinant protein containing 1-160 residues of M1 with mutated nuclear localization signal is able to interact with swine importin α1, but M1/60-252 domains cannot bind importin α1. Further mapping showed that the deletion of residues 1-20 impaired the interaction between N terminus of M1 and importin α1. Collectively, our data suggested that the N-terminal domain of M1 protein is critical for binding swine importin α1 and for nuclear localization.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 157-162 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Virus Genes |
Volume | 49 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Aug 2014 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:Acknowledgments We thank Robert Kahn for proof-reading of this manuscript. This project was funded by the CEIRS program of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, National Institute of Health under contract numbers HHSN266200700005C.
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
- Virology