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Analysis of double-stranded RNA from microbial communities identifies double-stranded RNA virus-like elements
Carolyn J Decker1, Roy Parker1
1Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80303, USA.
Cell Reports
|April 29, 2014
Summary
Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) is prevalent in microbes, with some sequences unique and potentially viral. This discovery reveals dsRNA as a significant reservoir of microbial genetic information.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Virology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) can function as genetic material.
- dsRNA may have been the primary genetic material before DNA-based life evolved.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the diversity of dsRNA in microbial populations.
- To characterize dsRNA sequences, including those unique to RNA and not found in DNA.
Main Methods:
- Developed a method for purifying dsRNA from microbial populations.
- Analyzed dsRNA sequences from an aquatic microbial population.
- Compared dsRNA sequences to metagenomic DNA and known viral sequences.
Main Results:
- Detected large dsRNAs in multiple microbial populations.
- Identified dsRNA sequences matching metagenomic DNA, indicating sense-antisense transcripts.
- ~30% of dsRNA sequences were unique, encoding novel proteins and including RNA virus-like contigs.
Conclusions:
- dsRNA represents a significant reservoir of genetic information in microbes.
- Uncovered novel dsRNA virus-like elements within microbial populations.
- Suggests a broader role for RNA in microbial genetic diversity and evolution.
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