Formation of adenovirus DNA replication compartments

Abstract

Adenoviruses induce an extensive reorganization of the host cell nucleus during replication. Such a process results in the assembly of viral and cellular macromolecules into nuclear structures called adenovirus replication compartments (AdRCs), which function as platforms for viral DNA replication and gene expression. AdRCs co-opt host proteins and cellular pathways that restrict viral replication, suggesting that the mechanisms that control AdRC formation and function are essential for viral replication and lay at the basis of virus–host interactions. Here, we review the hallmarks of AdRCs and recent progress in our understanding of the formation, composition, and function of AdRCs. Furthermore, we discuss how AdRCs facilitate the interplay between viral and cellular machineries and hijack cellular functions to promote viral genome replication and expression.