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Updated: Aug 20, 2026

Vaccinia Virus Infection & Temporal Analysis of Virus Gene Expression: Part 2
Published on: April 10, 2009
Cellular source of the poxviral N1R/p28 gene family
Robert D Nicholls1, Todd A Gray
1Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, Department of Psychiatry, CRB528, University of Pennsylvania, 415 Curie Blvd, PA 19104-6140, USA.
Abstract:
Full-length poxvirus N1R/p28 orthologous proteins feature a prominent C-terminal RING zinc-finger motif. The RING moiety is conspicuously mutated in a number of vaccinia virus strains relative to variola virus. This, together with empirical data, suggests that N1R/p28 proteins promote virulence by suppressing apoptosis. Poxvirus N1R/p28 orthologues are strikingly similar to the RING motif of the cellular Makorin family of zinc-finger proteins, suggesting a homologous relationship connecting the viral and cellular genes. Recently identified avipox N1R/p28 orthologues further encode additional Makorin-like zinc-finger motifs, consistent with this suggestion. Phylogenetic analysis supports a model of poxviral capture of a MKRN cDNA and fusion with an existing viral gene. Establishing an evolutionary link between the viral and cellular genes will facilitate the elucidation of their respective cellular functions, and of how they interact in modulating virulence.
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