title: Molecular mechanism of the alternative expression of the Chlorella virus CVK2 chitosanase gene.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Engineering, Hiroshima University, Japan.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hiramatsu
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ishihara
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fujie
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamada
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D015678:Viral Structural Proteins; D006026:Glycoside Hydrolases; C019868:chitosanase