Abstract
Phycodnaviruses are dsDNA viruses, which infect algae. Their large genomes encode many gene products, like small K+ channels, with homologs in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Screening for K+ channels revealed their abundance in viruses from fresh-water habitats. Recent sequencing of viruses from marine algae or from salt water in Antarctica revealed sequences with the predicted characteristics of K+ channels but with some unexpected features. Two genes encode either 78 or 79 amino acid proteins, which are the smallest known K+ channels. Also of interest is an unusual sequence in the canonical α-helixes in K+ channels. Structural prediction algorithms indicate that the new channels have the conserved α-helix folds but the algorithms failed to identify the expected transmembrane domains flanking the K+ channel pores. In spite of these unexpected properties electophysiological studies confirmed that the new proteins are functional K+ channels.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 103-111 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Virology |
Volume | 466-467 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Oct 1 2014 |
Keywords
- Algal viruses
- Chlorella viruses
- K channel evolution
- Kcv
- Virus evolution
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Virology