Importin-7-dependent nuclear localization of the Flavivirus core protein is required for infectious virus production

Flaviviridae is a family of positive-stranded RNA viruses, including human pathogens such as Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), dengue virus (DENV), zika virus (ZIKV), and West Nile virus (WNV). Nuclear localization of the viral core protein is conserved among Flaviviridae , and this feature may be targeted for developing broad-ranging anti-flavivirus drugs. However, the mechanism of core protein translocation to the nucleus and the importance of nuclear localization in the viral life cycle remain unknown. We aimed to identify the molecular mechanism underlying core protein nuclear translocation. We identified importin-7 (IPO7), an importin-β family protein, as a nuclear carrier for Flaviviridae core proteins. Nuclear import assays revealed that core protein was transported into the nucleus via IPO7, whereas IPO7 deletion by CRISPR/Cas9 impaired their nuclear localization. To understand the importance of core protein nuclear localization, we evaluated the production of infectious virus or single-round-infectious-particles in wild-type or IPO7-deficient cells; both processes were significantly impaired in IPO7-deficient cells, whereas intracellular infectious virus levels were equivalent in wild-type and IPO7-deficient cells. These data suggested that IPO7-mediated nuclear localization of core proteins plays a role in the release of infectious virus particles of flaviviruses.