Two Proline-Rich Nuclear Localization Signals in the Amino- and Carboxyl-Terminal Regions of the Borna Disease Virus Phosphoprotein

Borna disease virus (BDV) uses a unique strategy of replication and transcription which takes place in the nucleus, unlike other known, nonsegmented, negative-stranded RNA viruses of animal origin. In this process, viral constituents necessary for replication must be transported to the nucleus from the cytoplasm. We report here the evidence that BDV P protein, which may play an important role in viral replication and transcription, is transported into the nucleus in the absence of other viral constituents. This transportation is accomplished by its own nuclear localization signals (NLSs), which are present in both N-terminal ((29)PRPRKIPR(36)) and C-terminal ((181)PPRIYPQLPSAPT(193)) regions of the protein. These two NLSs can function independently and both have several Pro residues as key amino acids.