The structure of a thermophilic archaeal virus shows a dsDNA viral capsid type that spans all domains of life

Journal Article · Sat May 01 04:00:00 EDT 2004 · Proceedings, National Academy of Sciences, USA

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0401773101· OSTI ID:912328

Rice, G; Tang, L; Stedman, K; Roberto, F; Spuhler, J; Gillitzer, E; Johnson, J E; Douglas, T; Young, M

Of the three domains of life (Eukarya, Bacteria, and Archaea), the least understood is Archaea and its associated viruses. Many Archaea are extremophiles, with species that are capable of growth at some of the highest temperatures and extremes of pH of all known organisms. Phylogenetic rRNA-encoding DNA analysis places many of the hyperthermophilic Archaea (species with an optimum growth >80°C) at the base of the universal tree of life, suggesting that thermophiles were among the first forms of life on earth. Very few viruses have been identified from Archaea as compared to Bacteria and Eukarya. We report here the structure of a hyperthermophilic virus isolated from an archaeal host found in hot springs in Yellowstone National Park. The sequence of the circular double-stranded DNA viral genome shows that it shares little similarity to other known genes in viruses or other organisms. By comparing the tertiary and quaternary structures of the coat protein of this virus with those of a bacterial and an animal virus, we find conformational relationships among all three, suggesting that some viruses may have a common ancestor that precedes the division into three domains of life >3 billion years ago.

• Research Organization: Idaho National Laboratory (INL)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE - SC
• DOE Contract Number: AC07-99ID13727
• OSTI ID: 912328
• Report Number(s): INEEL/JOU-04-02581
• Journal Information: Proceedings, National Academy of Sciences, USA, Journal Name: Proceedings, National Academy of Sciences, USA Journal Issue: 20 Vol. 101
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
ANIMALS
BACTERIA
DNA
GENES
HOT SPRINGS
PROTEINS
Sulfolobus
TREES
VIRUSES
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK
Yellowstone
archaea
capsid
thermal viruses