Journal of General Virology

Fig. 4. Influenza virus nucleocytoplasmic trafficking. (a) Cartoon model of import/export mechanisms. (i) RNPs and (ii) monomeric NP, M1 and NEP polypeptides are imported from cytoplasm (C) to the nucleus (N) through NLS-mediated interactions with host-cell importin followed by importin docking with the nuclear pore complex (grey ovals). (iii) RNP nuclear export is thought to occur because of the formation of an NEP–M1–RNP complex which interacts with host-cell CRM1 via the NES in NEP. (iv) There is evidence that NP also contains an NES capable of functional interaction with CRM1, but it is not known whether this operates for RNA-bound NP or in infected cells. (b) Immunofluorescent staining patterns of NP early and late in infection. BHK cells infected with influenza virus A/PR/8/34 show predominantly nuclear NP at 4 h post-infection but almost exclusively cytoplasmic staining 5 h later.

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