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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 1, 2026

Synthesis of an Intein-mediated Artificial Protein Hydrogel

Synthesis of an Intein-mediated Artificial Protein Hydrogel

Published on: January 27, 2014

Enigmatic distribution, evolution, and function of inteins.

Olga Novikova¹, Natalya Topilina², Marlene Belfort²

¹From the Department of Biological Sciences and RNA Institute, University at Albany, The State University of New York, Albany, New York 12222 onovikova@albany.edu.

The Journal of Biological Chemistry

|April 4, 2014

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Inteins are mobile genetic elements found across life. This review explores their sporadic distribution in viruses and bacteriophages, suggesting roles in host evolution and regulation.

Keywords:

Bioinformatics Conditional Splicing DNA Enzymes Intein Gain and Loss Intein Localization Invasion Microbiology Molecular Evolution Protein Splicing Splicing

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Last Updated: May 1, 2026

Synthesis of an Intein-mediated Artificial Protein Hydrogel

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Published on: January 27, 2014

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Assembly and Purification of Prototype Foamy Virus Intasomes

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Area of Science:

Molecular Biology
Genetics
Evolutionary Biology

Background:

Inteins are protein substrings with the unique ability to excise themselves and ligate flanking protein sequences post-translationally.
These mobile genetic elements are found in all three domains of life, including viruses and bacteriophages, but exhibit a patchy distribution even among closely related species.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the reasons behind the anomalous distribution of inteins in viruses and bacteriophages.
To explore the evolutionary dynamics of inteins in relation to their host species.
To examine the intrinsic properties of inteins that facilitate their genetic mobility and their occurrence in functionally critical host protein sites.

Main Methods:

Review of existing literature on intein distribution, genetics, and function.
Comparative analysis of intein presence across different viral and bacteriophage lineages.
Examination of intein sequences and their integration sites within host proteins.

Main Results:

Intein distribution is influenced by both host evolutionary trajectories and intein-specific mobility mechanisms.
Inteins are frequently found within functionally significant regions of host proteins.
Conditional protein splicing has been observed, indicating potential regulatory functions.

Conclusions:

The sporadic distribution of inteins is a complex phenomenon driven by host-pathogen co-evolution and intein mobility.
Inteins can be integrated into critical protein domains, suggesting functional importance.
Some inteins may have evolved to act as conditional sensors, playing regulatory roles that benefit the host organism.