Virus-host co-evolution under a modified nuclear genetic code

Among eukaryotes with modified nuclear genetic codes, viruses are unknown. However, here we provide evidence of an RNA virus that infects a fungal host (Scheffersomyces segobiensis) with a derived nuclear genetic code where CUG codes for serine. The genomic architecture and phylogeny are consistent...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:PeerJ (San Francisco, CA) Vol. 1; p. e50
Main Authors: Taylor, Derek J., Ballinger, Matthew J., Bowman, Shaun M., Bruenn, Jeremy A.
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: United States PeerJ. Ltd 05.03.2013
PeerJ, Inc
PeerJ Inc
Subjects:
Acids
Adaptation
Analysis
Bioinformatics
Biology
Candida
Cellular proteins
Co-evolution
Codes
Codons
Coevolution
Double-stranded RNA
Evolution
Evolutionary Studies
Fungi
Genes
Genetic code
Genetics
Genomes
Genomics
Health aspects
Infection
Mass spectrometry
Mass spectroscopy
Microbiology
Mycology
NIRV
Paleovirology
Phylogenetics
Phylogeny
Proteins
RNA viruses
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Scheffersomyces stipitis
Serine
Totivirus
Virology
Viruses
Yeast
Genetic code
Paleovirology
Yeast
Co-evolution
NIRV
Totivirus
ISSN:2167-8359, 2167-8359
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Among eukaryotes with modified nuclear genetic codes, viruses are unknown. However, here we provide evidence of an RNA virus that infects a fungal host (Scheffersomyces segobiensis) with a derived nuclear genetic code where CUG codes for serine. The genomic architecture and phylogeny are consistent with infection by a double-stranded RNA virus of the genus Totivirus. We provide evidence of past or present infection with totiviruses in five species of yeasts with modified genetic codes. All but one of the CUG codons in the viral genome have been eliminated, suggesting that avoidance of the modified codon was important to viral adaptation. Our mass spectroscopy analysis indicates that a congener of the host species has co-opted and expresses a capsid gene from totiviruses as a cellular protein. Viral avoidance of the host's modified codon and host co-option of a protein from totiviruses suggest that RNA viruses co-evolved with yeasts that underwent a major evolutionary transition from the standard genetic code.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-1
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
ObjectType-Feature-2
content type line 14
content type line 23
ISSN:2167-8359
2167-8359
DOI:10.7717/peerj.50