The master rep concept in nanovirus replication: identification of missing genome components and potential for natural genetic reassortment.
Faba bean necrotic yellows virus (FBYNV), Milk vetch dwarf virus (MDV), and Subterranean clover stunt virus (SCSV) are nanoviruses that infect leguminous plants. From MDV- and SCSV-infected tissue we identified viral DNAs that encode a replication initiator protein (Rep), essential for replication of the multiple circular single-stranded DNAs of these viruses. These previously undescribed Rep proteins of MDV and SCSV are strikingly similar in sequence and functionally equivalent to the master Rep protein of FBYNV. Moreover, we demonstrated that the master Rep proteins of the three viruses are able to trigger replication of heterologous nanovirus DNAs. Such cross-species replication may reflect a considerable potential for genetic reassortment among nanoviruses in nature and be of significance for their evolution.
Institut des Sciences Végétales, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 91198 Gif sur Yvette, France.
T
T
Timchenko
L
L
Katul
Y
Y
Sano
F
F
de Kouchkovsky
H J
HJ
Vetten
B
B
Gronenborn
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D004265:DNA Helicases / Q000235:genetics*; D004261:DNA Replication; D004267:DNA Viruses / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D004279:DNA, Viral; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D016679:Genome, Viral; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010942:Plant Viruses / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics*; D014779:Virus Replication
D004279:DNA, Viral; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; C045264:replication initiator protein; D004265:DNA Helicases