Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Viral Mutations00:36

Viral Mutations

40.6K
A mutation is a change in the sequence of bases of DNA or RNA in a genome. Some mutations occur during replication of the genome due to errors made by the polymerase enzymes that replicate DNA or RNA. Unlike DNA polymerase, RNA polymerase is prone to errors because it is not capable of “proofreading” its work. Viruses with RNA-based genomes, like HIV, therefore accrue mutations faster than viruses with DNA-based genomes. Because mutation and recombination provide the raw material...
40.6K
Size and Structure of Viral Genomes01:26

Size and Structure of Viral Genomes

999
Viral genomes exhibit remarkable diversity in size, structure, and composition, influencing their replication strategies and interactions with host cells. These genomes consist of either DNA or RNA and may be linear or circular. Additionally, they can be single-stranded or double-stranded, with each configuration affecting how the virus propagates within a host. RNA viruses, for instance, generally have smaller genomes than DNA viruses, a factor that contributes to their high mutation rates and...
999
Evolutionary Relationships through Genome Comparisons02:54

Evolutionary Relationships through Genome Comparisons

7.2K
Genome comparison is one of the excellent ways to interpret the evolutionary relationships between organisms. The basic principle of genome comparison is that if two species share a common feature, it is likely encoded by the DNA sequence conserved between both species. The advent of genome sequencing technologies in the late 20th century enabled scientists to understand the concept of conservation of domains between species and helped them to deduce evolutionary relationships across diverse...
7.2K
Viruses with RNA Genomes01:29

Viruses with RNA Genomes

1.2K
RNA viruses are categorized into positive-strand, negative-strand, or double-stranded groups based on their genomic structure and replication mechanisms. This classification dictates how they exploit host cellular machinery for protein synthesis and replication. Some RNA viruses also utilize reverse transcription as part of their life cycle, further diversifying their replication strategies.Positive-Strand RNA VirusesPositive-strand RNA viruses have genomes that function directly as messenger...
1.2K
Viral Structure00:56

Viral Structure

75.6K
Viruses are extraordinarily diverse in shape and size, but they all have several structural features in common. All viruses have a core that contains a DNA- or RNA-based genome. The core is surrounded by a protective coat of proteins called the capsid. The capsid is composed of subunits called capsomeres. The capsid and genome-containing core are together known as the nucleocapsid.
75.6K
Retrovirus Life Cycles01:10

Retrovirus Life Cycles

50.3K
Retroviruses have a single-stranded RNA genome that undergoes a special form of replication. Once the retrovirus has entered the host cell, an enzyme called reverse transcriptase synthesizes double-stranded DNA from the retroviral RNA genome. This DNA copy of the genome is then integrated into the host’s genome inside the nucleus via an enzyme called integrase. Consequently, the retroviral genome is transcribed into RNA whenever the host’s genome is transcribed, allowing the...
50.3K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

A geothermal amoeba sets a new upper temperature limit for eukaryotes.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2025
Same author

Complete genome sequence of <i>Saccharolobus solfataricus</i> strain S441, from Lassen Volcanic National Park.

Microbiology resource announcements·2025
Same author

Astrovirology: how viruses enhance our understanding of life in the Universe.

International journal of astrobiology·2023
Same author

Novel viruses of the family Partitiviridae discovered in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

PLoS pathogens·2023
Same author

CRUISE, a Tool for the Detection of Iterons in Circular Rep-Encoding Single-Stranded DNA Viruses.

Microbiology resource announcements·2022
Same author

Bacterial Viruses Subcommittee and Archaeal Viruses Subcommittee of the ICTV: update of taxonomy changes in 2021.

Archives of virology·2021
Same journal

Sensing Underwater: Diversifying Selection, Convergent Evolution and Inactivation in Sensory Receptors' Genes of Aquatic Mammals.

Journal of molecular evolution·2026
Same journal

Synonymous Codons as Potential Contributors to Chromatin Stability and Gene Body Methylation in Plants.

Journal of molecular evolution·2026
Same journal

Convergent Functional Genomic Evolution Underlying Repeated Freshwater Colonization in Cetaceans.

Journal of molecular evolution·2026
Same journal

Conditions Enabling the Persistence of Cooperating Synthetase, Ligase, and Mutation-Inhibitor Catalytic Polymers.

Journal of molecular evolution·2026
Same journal

Lineage-Specific Diversification of Nucleoporin Nup98 Genes in Ciliates and Its Evolutionary Implications for the Nuclear Dualism.

Journal of molecular evolution·2026
Same journal

Mitochondrial Genome Evolution: The Influence of Partitioning, Calibration, and Gene Heterogeneity on Pleurodontan Substitution Rates.

Journal of molecular evolution·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 18, 2026

Purifying the Impure: Sequencing Metagenomes and Metatranscriptomes from Complex Animal-associated Samples
11:23

Purifying the Impure: Sequencing Metagenomes and Metatranscriptomes from Complex Animal-associated Samples

Published on: December 22, 2014

37.8K

Modeling Microvirus Capsid Protein Evolution Utilizing Metagenomic Sequence Data.

Geoffrey S Diemer1, Kenneth M Stedman2

  • 1Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, 505 NW 185th Ave, Beaverton, OR, 97006, USA. diemer.g.phd@gmail.com.

Journal of Molecular Evolution
|July 8, 2016
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Microviridae viruses, ubiquitous and diverse, offer insights into evolution. Natural selection favors conservation at the twofold interface of their main capsid protein, allowing variation elsewhere.

Keywords:
Homology modelingMetagenomic sequencingPopulation genetics

More Related Videos

Open-source Single-particle Analysis for Super-resolution Microscopy with VirusMapper
07:38

Open-source Single-particle Analysis for Super-resolution Microscopy with VirusMapper

Published on: April 9, 2017

10.6K
Phage Phenomics: Physiological Approaches to Characterize Novel Viral Proteins
09:40

Phage Phenomics: Physiological Approaches to Characterize Novel Viral Proteins

Published on: June 11, 2015

12.9K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Mar 18, 2026

Purifying the Impure: Sequencing Metagenomes and Metatranscriptomes from Complex Animal-associated Samples
11:23

Purifying the Impure: Sequencing Metagenomes and Metatranscriptomes from Complex Animal-associated Samples

Published on: December 22, 2014

37.8K
Open-source Single-particle Analysis for Super-resolution Microscopy with VirusMapper
07:38

Open-source Single-particle Analysis for Super-resolution Microscopy with VirusMapper

Published on: April 9, 2017

10.6K
Phage Phenomics: Physiological Approaches to Characterize Novel Viral Proteins
09:40

Phage Phenomics: Physiological Approaches to Characterize Novel Viral Proteins

Published on: June 11, 2015

12.9K

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Structural Biology

Background:

  • Microviridae are a globally ubiquitous and diverse virus family.
  • They serve as a valuable model for studying virus evolution and adaptation.
  • Microvirus virions consist of 60 identical capsid proteins forming an icosahedral structure around a ssDNA genome.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of natural selection on the main structural protein of Microviridae.
  • To analyze sequence conservation patterns in capsid proteins from various environments, including a novel high-temperature acidic lake.

Main Methods:

  • Utilizing microvirus sequences from diverse environments.
  • Performing structure-based analysis of the viral capsid protein.
  • Examining amino acid sequence conservation at different structural interfaces.

Main Results:

  • Amino acid sequence conservation is primarily concentrated at the twofold symmetry axis interface of the capsid protein.
  • The quaternary structure interface at the twofold axis is essential for viral assembly and function.
  • Tertiary and secondary structural elements of the capsid protein exhibit significant sequence variability.

Conclusions:

  • The twofold axis interface is a critical determinant for Microviridae capsid protein evolution.
  • Sequence variation is tolerated in other regions of the capsid protein, suggesting adaptation mechanisms.
  • Understanding these evolutionary constraints can inform studies on virus adaptation and diversification.