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Title: Cysteine Usage in Sulfolobus Spindle-Shaped Virus 1 And Extension to Hyperthermophilic Viruses in General

Journal Article · · Virology 376:270,2008
OSTI ID:953616

Fuselloviridae are ubiquitous crenarchaeal viruses found in high-temperature acidic hot springs worldwide. The type virus, Sulfolobus spindle-shaped virus 1 (SSV1), has a double-stranded DNA genome that contains 34 open reading frames (ORFs). Fuselloviral genomes show little similarity to other organisms, generally precluding functional predictions. However, tertiary protein structure can provide insight into protein function. We have thus undertaken a systematic investigation of the SSV1 proteome and report here on the F112 gene product. Biochemical, proteomic and structural studies reveal a monomeric intracellular protein that adopts a winged helix DNA binding fold. Notably, the structure contains an intrachain disulfide bond, prompting analysis of cysteine usage in this and other hyperthermophilic viral genomes. The analysis supports a general abundance of disulfide bonds in the intracellular proteins of hyperthermophilic viruses, and reveals decreased cysteine content in the membrane proteins of hyperthermophilic viruses infecting Sulfolobales. The evolutionary implications of the SSV1 distribution are discussed.

Research Organization:
SLAC National Accelerator Lab., Menlo Park, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
AC02-76SF00515
OSTI ID:
953616
Report Number(s):
SLAC-REPRINT-2009-267; VIRLAX; TRN: US201002%%1444
Journal Information:
Virology 376:270,2008, Vol. 376, Issue 2; ISSN 0042-6822
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English