DNA virus uncoating

- DNA virus uncoating strategies are highly diverse.
- Virus uncoating is pre-programed multistep process.
- Virus uncoating strategies rely heavily on cellular cooperation.
- Virus capsid priming and loss of structural proteins precedes genome delivery.
- Viral proteins released during uncoating can modulate innate immune responses.

Virus genomes are condensed and packaged inside stable proteinaceous capsids that serve to protect them during transit from one cell or host organism, to the next. During virus entry, capsid shells are primed and disassembled in a complex, tightly-regulated, multi-step process termed uncoating. Here we compare the uncoating-programs of DNA viruses of the pox-, herpes-, adeno-, polyoma-, and papillomavirus families. Highlighting the chemical and mechanical cues virus capsids respond to, we review the conformational changes that occur during stepwise disassembly of virus capsids and how these culminate in the release of viral genomes at the right time and cellular location to assure successful replication.