Molecular mechanism of the alternative expression of the Chlorella virus CVK2 chitosanase gene.
A novel viral strategy for expression of two mRNAs from a single gene yielding two products with seemingly different functions (alternative gene expression) has be found. The vChta-1 gene of Chlorella virus CVK2 produced two functional chitosanase proteins with apparently different roles in viral infection: The larger 65-kDa chitosanase assembled into virion and presumably function at the beginning of infection, while the smaller 37-kDa enzyme remains in the host cytoplasm where it most likely aids in the digestion of the host cell wall prior to viral release. These predicted activities are essential for a cycle of viral infection. The dual expression of the vChta-1 gene most likely occurred by read-through into a downstream gene, ORF245.
Hiramatsu
S
S
Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Engineering, Hiroshima University, Japan.
Ishihara
S
S
Fujie
M
M
Yamada
T
T
D002708:Chlorella / Q000821:virology*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D005814:Genes, Viral; D006026:Glycoside Hydrolases / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D008970:Molecular Weight; D017862:Phycodnaviridae / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D015678:Viral Structural Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D014771:Virion / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D015678:Viral Structural Proteins; D006026:Glycoside Hydrolases; C019868:chitosanase