A virophage at the origin of large DNA transposons

DNA transposons are mobile genetic elements that have shaped the genomes of eukaryotes for millions of years, yet their origins remain obscure. We discovered a virophage that, on the basis of genetic homology, likely represents an evolutionary link between double-stranded DNA viruses and Maverick/Po...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) Vol. 332; no. 6026; p. 231
Main Authors: Fischer, Matthias G, Suttle, Curtis A
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: United States 08.04.2011
Subjects:
Amino Acid Sequence
DNA Transposable Elements
DNA Viruses - genetics
DNA Viruses - physiology
DNA, Viral - genetics
DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase - genetics
Evolution, Molecular
Genome, Viral
Integrases - chemistry
Integrases - genetics
Molecular Sequence Data
Phylogeny
Satellite Viruses - genetics
Satellite Viruses - physiology
Stramenopiles - virology
Viral Proteins - chemistry
Viral Proteins - genetics
Virus Replication
ISSN:1095-9203, 1095-9203
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Summary:DNA transposons are mobile genetic elements that have shaped the genomes of eukaryotes for millions of years, yet their origins remain obscure. We discovered a virophage that, on the basis of genetic homology, likely represents an evolutionary link between double-stranded DNA viruses and Maverick/Polinton eukaryotic DNA transposons. The Mavirus virophage parasitizes the giant Cafeteria roenbergensis virus and encodes 20 predicted proteins, including a retroviral integrase and a protein-primed DNA polymerase B. On the basis of our data, we conclude that Maverick/Polinton transposons may have originated from ancient relatives of Mavirus, and thereby influenced the evolution of eukaryotic genomes, although we cannot rule out alternative evolutionary scenarios.
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ISSN:1095-9203
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.1199412