A mobile genetic element with unknown function found in distantly related viruses.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The genetic element s2m seems to represent one of very few examples of mobile genetic elements in viruses. The function remains obscure and a scattered taxonomical distribution has been reported by numerous groups.

Methods

We have searched GenBank in order to identify all viral accessions that have s2m(-like) sequence motifs. Rigorous phylogenetic analyses and constrained tree topology testing were also performed in order to investigate the apparently mobile nature of s2m.

Results

The stem-loop s2m structure can be found in four families of + ssRNA viruses; Astroviridae, Caliciviridae, Picornaviridae and Coronaviridae. In all of these virus families, with the possible exception of Caliciviridae, multiple gains and/or losses of s2m would have to be postulate

SUBMITTER: Tengs T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3653767 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature