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Characterization of Membrane Transporters by Heterologous Expression in E. coli and Production of Membrane Vesicles
Published on: December 31, 2019
Large dsDNA chloroviruses encode diverse membrane transport proteins
Gerhard Thiel1, Timo Greiner2, David D Dunigan3
1Department of Biology, Membrane Biophysics, TU-Darmstadt, Schnittspahnstrasse 3, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany.
Chloroviruses, which infect green algae, often possess unique membrane transport proteins like potassium channels. This review explores these viral proteins, their functions, and evolutionary origins.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Chloroviruses, large DNA viruses infecting green algae, possess an unusual number of membrane transport proteins.
- These proteins include potassium channels, aquaglyceroporins, calcium transporters, and ligand-gated channels.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the properties of membrane transport proteins encoded by chloroviruses.
- To suggest potential physiological functions and evolutionary histories for these viral proteins.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of sequenced chloroviruses.
- Analysis of known and putative membrane transport protein functions.
- Comparative genomics to infer evolutionary relationships.
Main Results:
- Chloroviruses encode a diverse array of membrane transport proteins, with potassium channels being the most common.
- Functional potassium channels and aquaglyceroporins are frequently identified.
- Some chloroviruses also encode calcium transporting ATPases and putative ligand-gated channels.
Conclusions:
- The presence of diverse membrane transport proteins in chloroviruses suggests complex interactions with host cell physiology.
- Potassium channels play a significant role in chlorovirus biology, as they are found in nearly all sequenced isolates.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate the functions and evolutionary pathways of these viral membrane transport proteins.
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