Biophysical studies of a Sulfolobus icosahedral virus

描述(由申请人提供)： Sulfolobus turreted二十面体病毒(STIV)是一种裂解性超嗜热性病毒，感染古生物界Crenaceota中Sulfolobus家族的成员。低温电子显微镜(Cryo-EM)重建的病毒图像显示出与哺乳动物腺病毒、噬菌体PRD1和藻类病毒PBCV-1惊人的结构相似。对腺病毒、PRD1和PBCV-1主要衣壳蛋白的结构研究表明，这些病毒之间存在很强的进化关系。这项提议提出了结构和生物物理研究，旨在确定STIV的特征并确定该病毒是否可以与上述病毒在进化上相关。对包含生命三个阶段的病毒发展史的确认是令人兴奋和史无前例的。STIV和古生菌感染病毒的特征将提供对古生菌的生物化学、病毒宿主关系和进化以及在极端环境下生存所需的生化适应的实质性洞察。对古生代病毒的详细描述也可能扩大我们对病毒进化的了解。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The Sulfolobus Turreted Icosahedral virus (STIV) is a lytic hyperthermophile virus that infects members of the Sulfolobus family within the kingdom Crenarchaeota of the domain Archaea. The cryo-electron microscope (Cryo-EM) image reconstruction of the virus shows a striking architectural resemblance to the mammalian adenovirus, the bacteriophage PRD1, and algal virus PBCV-1. Structural studies of the major capsid proteins of adenovirus, PRD1, and PBCV-1 have shown a strong possiblity of evolutionary relationship between these viruses. This proposal sets forth structural and biophysical studies aimed in characterizing STIV and identifying whether this virus can be evolutionary related to the above mentioned viruses. The identification of a virus phylogeny encompassing the three divisions of life is exciting and unprecedented. Characterization of STIV, and Archaea infecting viruses in general, will provide substantial insight into the biochemistry of Archaea, virus host relationship and evolution, and biochemical adaptations required for survival under extreme environments. Detailed characterization of Archaea viruses may also expand our knowledge of viral evolution.