Viruses that abuse ERAD for cell entry

Abstract

For millions of years viruses have survived because they take over a cell as intracellular parasites. Within a cell, a virus exploits cellular processes for its replication and reproduction. To gain access to the cells interior, different viruses can have similar but also completely diverse entry mechanisms. Polyomaviruses localize in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) lumen where they abuses ER associated degradation (ERAD). In this process, specific ER proteins interact with the virus and induce virus uncoating and dislocation to the cytosol. This review describes in more detail how one typical virus uses the degradation mechanisms in the ER. Furthermore we speculate about other viruses that might have similar ERAD hijacking strategies.