Cell Penetration and Trafficking of Polyomavirus

The murine polyomavirus (Py) enters mouse fibroblasts and kidney epithelial cells via an endocytic pathway that is caveola-independent (as well as clathrin-independent). In contrast, uptake of simian virus 40 into the same cells is dependent on caveola. Following the initial uptake of Py, both microtubules and microfilaments play roles in trafficking of the virus to the nucleus. Colcemid, which disrupts microtubules, inhibits the ability of Py to reach the nucleus and replicate. Paclitaxel, which stabilizes microtubules and prevents microtubule turnover, has no effect, indicating that intact but not dynamic microtubules are required for Py infectivity. Compounds that disrupt actin filaments enhance Py uptake while stabilization of actin filaments impedes Py infection. Virus particles are seen in association with actin in cells treated with microfilament-disrupting or filament-stabilizing agents at levels comparable to those in untreated cells, suggesting that a dynamic state of the microfilament system is important for Py infectivity.