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Related Concept Videos

Viruses with RNA Genomes01:29

Viruses with RNA Genomes

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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...
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Leaky Scanning

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During most eukaryotic translation processes, the small 40S ribosome subunit scans an mRNA from its 5' end until it encounters the first start AUG codon. The large 60S ribosomal subunit then joins the smaller one to initiate protein synthesis. The location of the translation initiation is largely determined by the nucleotides near the start codon as there may be multiple translation initiation sites present on the mRNA.  Marilyn Kozak discovered that the sequence RCCAUGG (where R...
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Viruses of Archaea01:29

Viruses of Archaea

Archaeal viruses play a crucial role in the ecosystems of extremophilic archaea, particularly those belonging to the phyla Euryarchaeota and Crenarchaeota. By shaping host evolution and facilitating gene transfer, these viruses influence microbial communities and contribute to genetic diversity in extreme environments. The archaea they infect thrive in acidic hot springs and hydrothermal vents characterized by high temperatures and low pH. Archaeal viruses exhibit remarkable structural...
Ribozymes02:47

Ribozymes

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The term ribozyme is used for RNA that can act as an enzyme. Ribozymes are mainly found in selected viruses, bacteria, plant organelles, and lower eukaryotes. Ribozymes were first discovered in 1982 when Tom Cech’s laboratory observed Group I introns acting as enzymes. This was shortly followed by the discovery of another ribozyme, Ribonulcease P, by Sid Altman’s laboratory. Both Cech and Altman received the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 1989 for their work on ribozymes.
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Retroviruses02:33

Retroviruses

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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’...
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Eukaryotic RNA Polymerases00:58

Eukaryotic RNA Polymerases

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RNA Polymerase (RNAP) is conserved in all animals, with bacterial, archaeal, and eukaryotic RNAPs sharing significant sequence, structural, and functional similarities. Among the three eukaryotic RNAPs, RNA Polymerase II is most similar to bacterial RNAP in terms of both structural organization and folding topologies of the enzyme subunits. However, these similarities are not reflected in their mechanism of action.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 9, 2025

Large-scale Production of Recombinant RNAs on a Circular Scaffold Using a Viroid-derived System in Escherichia coli
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Eukaryotic viruses encode the ribosomal protein eL40.

Julie Thomy1,2, Christopher R Schvarcz1,2, Kelsey A McBeain1,2

  • 1Daniel K. Inouye Center for Microbial Oceanography: Research and Education, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST), University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI USA.

Npj Viruses
|October 28, 2024
PubMed
Summary

Giant viruses in the Nucleocytoviricota phylum, like FloV-SA2, are the first known to encode ribosomal proteins, specifically eL40. This discovery opens new avenues for studying viral manipulation of host cell metabolism.

Keywords:
MicrobiologyVirology

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Analysis of Group IV Viral SSHHPS Using In Vitro and In Silico Methods
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Analysis of Group IV Viral SSHHPS Using In Vitro and In Silico Methods

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Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genomics

Background:

  • Viruses in the Nucleocytoviricota phylum are known for their large size and complex genomes.
  • These viruses possess diverse metabolic capabilities, including encoding numerous proteins involved in mRNA translation.
  • However, no viral genes encoding ribosomal proteins, essential for translation, had been identified.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the presence of ribosomal protein genes in eukaryotic viruses.
  • To characterize novel genes identified in the giant virus FloV-SA2.
  • To explore the functional implications of viral-encoded ribosomal proteins and other unique viral genes.

Main Methods:

  • Bioinformatic analysis of the FloV-SA2 viral genome.
  • Gene discovery and characterization, focusing on the eL40 gene.
  • Phylogenetic analysis to identify related genes in other viruses.
  • Metagenomic data analysis to assess the prevalence of identified genes in uncultivated viruses.
  • Identification and characterization of viral rhodopsin genes.

Main Results:

  • The discovery of the eL40 gene in the eukaryotic virus FloV-SA2, representing the first instance of a virus encoding a ribosomal protein.
  • Confirmation that the eL40 gene is present and expressed in other uncultivated marine giant viruses.
  • Identification of a "group II" viral rhodopsin in FloV-SA2, a light-activated protein previously found only in metagenomes.
  • FloV-SA2 exhibits a unique combination of viral-encoded translational machinery and light-activated proteins.

Conclusions:

  • The finding of viral-encoded ribosomal proteins challenges previous understandings of viral biology and the central dogma.
  • FloV-SA2 serves as a crucial model for understanding how giant viruses interact with and manipulate eukaryotic host cell metabolism.
  • The presence of viral rhodopsin suggests novel viral strategies for energy acquisition or signaling within host cells.