biostudies-literatureKukovetz KEuropean Research CouncilNational Science FoundationE1107https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC7650704biostudies-literatureUnknown12(10)Potassium ion (K⁺) channels have been observed in diverse viruses that infect eukaryotic marine and freshwater algae. However, experimental evidence for functional K⁺ channels among these alga-infecting viruses has thus far been restricted to members of the family <i>Phycodnaviridae,</i> which are large, double-stranded DNA viruses within the phylum <i>Nucleocytoviricota</i>. Recent sequencing projects revealed that alga-infecting members of <i>Mimiviridae</i>, another family within this phylum, may also contain genes encoding K⁺ channels. Here we examine the structural features and the functional properties of putative K⁺ channels from four cultivated members of <i>Mimiviridae</i>. While all four proteins contain variations of the conserved seleVirusesA Functional K⁺ Channel from Tetraselmis Virus 1, a Member of the <i>Mimiviridae</i>.PMC76507041736030695078 noMAGICGreiner TKukovetz KBurk USteward GFSaponaro AVan Etten JLThiel GRauh OHertel BSchvarcz CRMoroni AManthey MfalseA Functional K⁺ Channel from Tetraselmis Virus 1, a Member of the <i>Mimiviridae</i>.Potassium ion (K⁺) channels have been observed in diverse viruses that infect eukaryotic marine and freshwater algae. However, experimental evidence for functional K⁺ channels among these alga-infecting viruses has thus far been restricted to members of the family <i>Phycodnaviridae,</i> which are large, double-stranded DNA viruses within the phylum <i>Nucleocytoviricota</i>. Recent sequencing projects revealed that alga-infecting members of <i>Mimiviridae</i>, another family within this phylum, may also contain genes encoding K⁺ channels. Here we examine the structural features and the functional properties of putative K⁺ channels from four cultivated members of <i>Mimiviridae</i>. While all four proteins contain variations of the conserved sele2020-01-01T00:00:00Z2020 Sep2026-04-07T18:58:09.427Z2020-11-19T13:40:25ZS-EPMC76507043300363710.3390/v12101107