Autophagy. 2022 Dec 05. 1-3
Viruses are masters at using cellular pathways to aid their replication. Cryo-electron tomography of poliovirus-infected cells revealed how it utilizes macroautophagy to its advantage. Assembly of these non-enveloped virions takes place directly on membranes and requires PIK3C3/VPS34 activity to be completed, whereas the canonical autophagy inducer ULK1 restricts virus assembly. The tomograms further revealed that enterovirus-induced autophagy is selective for RNA-loaded virions, which may help ensure maximum infectivity of the virus-laden vesicles released through secretory autophagy.
Keywords: Autophagy; cryo-EM; cryo-electron tomography; enteroviruses; membrane trafficking; membranes; poliovirus; virology; virus replication