A phylogenomic data-driven exploration of viral origins and evolution.

ABSTRACT: The origin of viruses remains mysterious because of their diverse and patchy molecular and functional makeup. Although numerous hypotheses have attempted to explain viral origins, none is backed by substantive data. We take full advantage of the wealth of available protein structural and functional data to explore the evolution of the proteomic makeup of thousands of cells and viruses. Despite the extremely reduced nature of viral proteomes, we established an ancient origin of the "viral supergroup" and the existence of widespread episodes of horizontal transfer of genetic information. Viruses harboring different replicon types and infecting distantly related hosts shared many metabolic and informational protein structural domains of ancient origin that were also widespread in cellular pro

SUBMITTER: Nasir A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4643759 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature