title: [Evolution of RNA-dependent RNA polymerases of positive riboviruses].
abstract: A comparative analysis is presented of 24 known amino acid sequences of RNA-dependent RNA polymerases of positive strand RNA viruses infecting animals, plants and bacteria. Using a newly proposed methodology of group alignment for weakly similar sequences, evolutionary conserved fragments of all these proteins were unambiguously aligned. A unique pattern (consensus) of 7 invariant amino acid residues was revealed which is absent from the sequences of other RNA and DNA polymerases and is thought to unequivocally identify the RNA-dependent RNA polymerases of positive strand RNA viruses. Based on the obtained alignment a tentative phylogenetic tree of viral RNA polymerases was constructed for the first time. The RNA-dependent RNA polymerases of positive strand RNA viruses are concluded to comprise a distinct family of evolutionary related proteins.
authors: E V
authors: EV
authors: Kunin
authors: A E
authors: AE
authors: Gorbalenia
authors: K M
authors: KM
authors: Chumakov
authors: A P
authors: AP
authors: Donchenko
authors: V M
authors: VM
authors: Blinov
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D005075:Biological Evolution; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012316:RNA Nucleotidyltransferases / Q000235:genetics*; D012328:RNA Viruses / Q000235:genetics*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D012324:RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral; D012316:RNA Nucleotidyltransferases; D012324:RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase
vernacular_title: Evoliutsiia RNK-zavisimykh RNK-polimeraz pozitivnykh ribovirusov.