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 Recombination00:57

Viral Recombination

23.4K
Cells are sometimes infected by more than one virus at once. When two viruses disassemble to expose their genomes for replication in the same cell, similar regions of their genomes can pair together and exchange sequences in a process called recombination. Alternatively, viruses with segmented genomes can swap segments in a process called reassortment.
23.4K
Retrovirus Life Cycles01:10

Retrovirus Life Cycles

45.9K
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...
45.9K
Exon Recombination02:32

Exon Recombination

3.6K
The evolution of new genes is critical for speciation. Exon recombination, also known as exon shuffling or domain shuffling, is an important means of new gene formation. It is observed across vertebrates, invertebrates, and in some plants such as potatoes and sunflowers. During exon recombination, exons from the same or different genes recombine and produce new exon-intron combinations, which might evolve into new genes. 
Exon shuffling follows “splice frame rules.” Each exon...
3.6K
Viral Mutations00:36

Viral Mutations

32.3K
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...
32.3K
Conservative Site-specific Recombination and Phase Variation02:53

Conservative Site-specific Recombination and Phase Variation

6.0K
Because the DNA segments are cut and reorganized in a direction-specific manner, site-specific recombination has emerged as an efficient genetic engineering technique. Flippase and Cyclization recombinases or Flp and Cre, respectively, are two members of the tyrosine recombinase family derived from bacteriophages, that are used to mediate site-specific DNA insertions, deletions, and targeted expression of proteins in mammalian cell lines.
The recognition sites for Cre recombinase called LoxP...
6.0K
Retroviruses02:33

Retroviruses

12.2K
Retroviruses and retrotransposons both insert copies of their genetic elements into the genome of the host cell. Thus, the viral genes are passed on when the host genome is replicated or translated. A typical retroviral DNA sequence contains 3-4 genes that encode the different proteins required for its structural assembly and function as a molecular parasite. This DNA is transcribed into a single mRNA, which is very similar in structure to conventional mRNAs, i.e., it is capped at the 5’...
12.2K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Retraction: C-Jun mediates hepatitis C virus hepatocarcinogenesis through signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 and nitric oxide-dependent impairment of oxidative DNA repair.

Hepatology (Baltimore, Md.)·2025
Same author

Glycyrrhizic acid conjugates with amino acid methyl esters target the main protease, exhibiting antiviral activity against wild-type and nirmatrelvir-resistant SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Antiviral research·2024
Same author

Dual Effects of 3-<i>epi</i>-betulin from <i>Daphniphyllum glaucescens</i> in Suppressing SARS-CoV-2-Induced Inflammation and Inhibiting Virus Entry.

International journal of molecular sciences·2023
Same author

Functional assessments of SARS-CoV-2 single-round infectious particles with variant-specific spike proteins on infectivity, drug sensitivity, and antibody neutralization.

Antiviral research·2023
Same author

A disintegrin and metalloproteinase domain 9 facilitates SARS-CoV-2 entry into cells with low ACE2 expression.

Microbiology spectrum·2023
Same author

Upregulation of galectin-3 in influenza A virus infection promotes viral RNA synthesis through its association with viral PA protein.

Journal of biomedical science·2023

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 28, 2025

Bacterial Artificial Chromosomes: A Functional Genomics Tool for the Study of Positive-strand RNA Viruses
12:20

Bacterial Artificial Chromosomes: A Functional Genomics Tool for the Study of Positive-strand RNA Viruses

Published on: December 29, 2015

21.4K

Recombination in large RNA viruses: Coronaviruses.

Michael M C Lai1

  • 1From the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, 90033-1054, USA.

Seminars in Virology
|April 15, 2024
PubMed
Summary

Coronaviruses frequently undergo RNA recombination, a process vital for their evolution and genomic diversity. This high-frequency recombination, occurring between viral genomes and defective-interfering RNAs, contributes to coronavirus adaptability.

Keywords:
RNA evolutionRNA recombinationdefective-interfering RNAmouse hepatitis virus

More Related Videos

Rescue of Recombinant Zika Virus from a Bacterial Artificial Chromosome cDNA Clone
08:10

Rescue of Recombinant Zika Virus from a Bacterial Artificial Chromosome cDNA Clone

Published on: June 24, 2019

26.8K
Rescue of Recombinant Newcastle Disease Virus from cDNA
10:55

Rescue of Recombinant Newcastle Disease Virus from cDNA

Published on: October 11, 2013

19.3K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 28, 2025

Bacterial Artificial Chromosomes: A Functional Genomics Tool for the Study of Positive-strand RNA Viruses
12:20

Bacterial Artificial Chromosomes: A Functional Genomics Tool for the Study of Positive-strand RNA Viruses

Published on: December 29, 2015

21.4K
Rescue of Recombinant Zika Virus from a Bacterial Artificial Chromosome cDNA Clone
08:10

Rescue of Recombinant Zika Virus from a Bacterial Artificial Chromosome cDNA Clone

Published on: June 24, 2019

26.8K
Rescue of Recombinant Newcastle Disease Virus from cDNA
10:55

Rescue of Recombinant Newcastle Disease Virus from cDNA

Published on: October 11, 2013

19.3K

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Coronaviruses possess large RNA genomes.
  • RNA recombination occurs at a high frequency (nearly 25%) in coronaviruses.
  • Recombination has been observed between viral genomes and between defective-interfering (DI) RNAs and viral RNA.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the role of recombination in coronavirus evolution and genomic diversity.
  • To investigate the relationship between coronavirus mRNA transcription mechanisms and recombination frequency.
  • To understand recombination as a tool for viral genomic RNA mutagenesis.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of coronavirus genomic structure.
  • Investigation of RNA transcription mechanisms, including discontinuous RNA synthesis.
  • Assessment of viral polymerase processivity.

Main Results:

  • Coronaviruses exhibit a high frequency of genome-wide recombination (nearly 25%).
  • Recombination occurs between viral genomes and between DI RNAs and viral RNA.
  • The mRNA transcription mechanism, involving discontinuous RNA synthesis, suggests a nonprocessive viral polymerase, potentially facilitating recombination.
  • Recombination serves as a mechanism for viral genomic RNA mutagenesis.

Conclusions:

  • High-frequency recombination is a key evolutionary mechanism for coronaviruses, driving genomic diversity.
  • The discontinuous RNA synthesis characteristic of coronavirus transcription likely contributes to its high recombination rate.
  • Recombination is a significant factor in the mutagenesis and adaptation of coronavirus genomes.