Algal viruses with distinct intraspecies host specificities include identical intein elements.

ABSTRACT: Heterosigma akashiwo virus (HaV) is a large double-stranded DNA virus infecting the single-cell bloom-forming raphidophyte (golden brown alga) H. akashiwo. A molecular phylogenetic sequence analysis of HaV DNA polymerase showed that it forms a sister group with Phycodnaviridae algal viruses. All 10 examined HaV strains, which had distinct intraspecies host specificities, included an intein (protein intron) in their DNA polymerase genes. The 232-amino-acid inteins differed from each other by no more than a single nucleotide change. All inteins were present at the same conserved position, coding for an active-site motif, which also includes inteins in mimivirus (a very large double-stranded DNA virus of amoebae) and in several archaeal DNA polymerase genes. The HaV intein is closely related

SUBMITTER: Nagasaki K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1169056 | biostudies-literature | 2005 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature