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Phycodnavirus potassium ion channel proteins question the virus molecular piracy hypothesis
Kay Hamacher1, Timo Greiner, Hiroyuki Ogata
1Computational Biology Group, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany.
Plos One
|June 12, 2012
Summary
Phycodnavirus genes encode small, functional potassium (K+) channels. Phylogenetic analysis reveals these viral K+ channels are unrelated to host channels, suggesting ancient origins or that viruses introduced K+ channels to algae.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Molecular Biology
- Biophysics
Background:
- Phycodnaviruses are large DNA viruses infecting algae.
- These viruses encode numerous genes with prokaryotic and eukaryotic homologs.
- Notably, they possess genes for the smallest known functional potassium (K+) channels.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the origin of phycodnavirus K+ channel genes.
- To determine if these genes were acquired from their algal hosts via gene transfer.
- To explore evolutionary relationships between viral and host K+ channels.
Main Methods:
- Comparative sequence analysis of K+ channel pore modules.
- Phylogenetic analyses of viral and host K+ channel homologs.
- Functional expression of a related bacterial protein in yeast.
Main Results:
- Phylogenetic analyses showed viral K+ channels are not related to host homologs.
- Viral K+ channels are more closely related to each other than to host versions.
- A related bacterial protein lacked K+ channel motifs and function, ruling out proteobacterial origin.
Conclusions:
- Phycodnavirus K+ channel genes were not acquired from current algal hosts.
- Alternative origins, such as ancient hosts or viral introduction to algae, are proposed.
- Viral K+ channels may represent the evolutionary origin of cellular K+ channels.
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