Unique genome replication mechanism of the archaeal virus AFV1.
The exceptional genomic content and genome organization of the Acidianus filamentous virus 1 (AFV1) that infects the hyperthermophilic archaeon Acidianus hospitalis suggest that this virus might exploit an unusual mechanism of genome replication. An analysis of replicative intermediates of the viral genome by two-dimensional (2D) agarose gel electrophoresis revealed that viral genome replication starts by the formation of a D-loop and proceeds via strand displacement replication. Characterization of replicative intermediates using dark-field electron microscopy, in combination with the 2D agarose gel electrophoresis data, suggests that recombination plays a key role in the termination of AFV1 genome replication through the formation of terminal loops. A terminal protein was found to be attached to the ends of the viral genome. The results allow us to postulate a model of genome replication that relies on recombination events for initiation and termination.
Institut Pasteur, Département de Microbiologie, 25 Rue du Dr. Roux, 75015, Paris, France.
Mery
M
Pina
Tamara
T
Basta
Tessa E F
TE
Quax
Alexandra
A
Joubert
Sonia
S
Baconnais
Diego
D
Cortez
Sarah
S
Lambert
Eric
E
Le Cam
Stephen D
SD
Bell
Patrick
P
Forterre
David
D
Prangishvili
D023641:Archaeal Viruses / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D015180:Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional; D016679:Genome, Viral; D023643:Lipothrixviridae / Q000502:physiology*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D014779:Virus Replication