Phycodnaviruses are dsDNA viruses, which infect algae. Their large genomes encode many gene products, like small K+channels, with homologs in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Screening for K+channels revealed their abundance in viruses from fresh-water habitats. Recent sequencing of viruses from marine algae or from salt water in Antarctica revealed sequences with the predicted characteristics of K+channels but with some unexpected features. Two genes encode either 78 or 79 amino acid proteins, which are the smallest known K+channels. Also of interest is an unusual sequence in the canonical α-helixes in K+channels. Structural prediction algorithms indicate that the new channels have the conserved α-helix folds but the algorithms failed to identify the expected transmembrane domains flanking the K+channel pores. In spite of these unexpected properties electophysiological studies confirmed that the new proteins are functional K+channels.

Viruses infecting marine picoplancton encode functional potassium ion channels / F. Siotto, C. Martin, O. Rauh, J.L. Van Etten, I. Schroeder, A. Moroni, G. Thiel. - In: VIROLOGY. - ISSN 0042-6822. - 466-467(2014), pp. 103-111. [10.1016/j.virol.2014.05.002]

Viruses infecting marine picoplancton encode functional potassium ion channels

I. Schroeder;A. Moroni;
2014

Abstract

Phycodnaviruses are dsDNA viruses, which infect algae. Their large genomes encode many gene products, like small K+channels, with homologs in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Screening for K+channels revealed their abundance in viruses from fresh-water habitats. Recent sequencing of viruses from marine algae or from salt water in Antarctica revealed sequences with the predicted characteristics of K+channels but with some unexpected features. Two genes encode either 78 or 79 amino acid proteins, which are the smallest known K+channels. Also of interest is an unusual sequence in the canonical α-helixes in K+channels. Structural prediction algorithms indicate that the new channels have the conserved α-helix folds but the algorithms failed to identify the expected transmembrane domains flanking the K+channel pores. In spite of these unexpected properties electophysiological studies confirmed that the new proteins are functional K+channels.
K+ channel evolution; Kcv; Chlorella viruses; Algal viruses; Virus evolution
Settore BIO/04 - Fisiologia Vegetale
2014
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2434/585472
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