Acta Veterinaria et Zootechnica Sinica ›› 2021, Vol. 52 ›› Issue (4): 891-898.doi: 10.11843/j.issn.0366-6964.2021.04.005

• REVIEW • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Research Progress on the Mechanism and Function of Nuclear Localization of Newcastle Disease Virus M Protein

DUAN Zhiqiang1,2*, XIE Lingling3, ZHOU Di3, WANG Yanbi1,2, ZHAO Caiqin1,2, TANG Hong1,2   

  1. 1. Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction in the Plateau Mountainous Region of Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China;
    2. College of Animal Science, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China;
    3. Guizhou Provincial Breeding Animal and Poultry Germplasm Testing Center, Guiyang 550018, China
  • Received:2020-10-08 Online:2021-04-23 Published:2021-04-25

Abstract: The M protein of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) is a non-glycosylated membrane-associated protein, which locates at the inner surface of NDV envelope and constitutes the bridge between the viral envelope and the nucleocapsid. Studies have demonstrated that the M protein is a nucleocytoplasmic shuttling protein, and can localize in the nucleus via its intrinsic nuclear localization signal early in NDV infection. According to the reported functions of RNA viruses M protein, the early nuclear localization of NDV M protein may benefit for viral genome replication and transcription, and also inhibit cell gene transcription and protein synthesis. At present, numerous studies have focused on the relationship between M protein and NDV virulence and replication, and also the formation mechanism and utilization of M protein-based virus-like particles. However, there have little researches about the mechanism and function of M’s nuclear localization. Due to the crucial roles of M protein in the replication and pathogenicity of NDV, this summary mainly reviews the cellular localization characteristics of M protein and the molecular mechanism and function of M protein in the nucleus, which will provide theoretical references for further studying the nuclear localization functions and mechanisms of NDV M protein.

Key words: Newcastle disease virus, M protein, nuclear localization, nuclear localization signal, gene transcription

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