Widespread Distribution and Evolution of Poxviral Entry-Fusion Complex Proteins in Giant Viruses.

ABSTRACT: Poxviruses are known to encode a set of proteins that form an entry-fusion complex (EFC) to mediate virus entry. However, the diversity, evolution, and origin of these EFC proteins remain poorly understood. Here, we identify the EFC protein homologs in poxviruses and other giant viruses of the phylum Nucleocytoviricota. The 11 EFC genes are present in almost all poxviruses, with the two smallest, G3 and O3, being absent in Entomopoxvirinae and basal lineages of Chordopoxvirinae. Five of the EFC genes are further grouped into two families, A16/G9/J5 and F9/L1, which are widely distributed across other major lineages of Nucleocytoviricota, including metagenome-assembled genomes, but are generally absent in viruses infecting algae or nonamoebozoan heterotrophic pro

SUBMITTER: Kao S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10100723 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature