Biophysical studies of a Sulfolobus icosahedral virus

描述（由申请人提供）： 硫化叶菌转塔二十面体病毒（Sulfolobus Turreted Icosahedral virus，STIV）是一种裂解性超嗜热病毒，感染Crenarchaeota界中的硫化叶菌家族成员。该病毒的冷冻电子显微镜（Cryo-EM）图像重建显示出与哺乳动物腺病毒、噬菌体PRD 1和藻类病毒PBCV-1惊人的结构相似性。对腺病毒、PRD 1和PBCV-1的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。该提案提出了结构和生物物理研究，旨在表征STIV并鉴定该病毒是否可以与上述病毒进化相关。确定一个包含生命三个部分的病毒遗传学是令人兴奋和前所未有的。STIV的表征，和一般的感染病毒的寄生虫，将提供大量的洞察寄生虫的生物化学，病毒宿主关系和进化，以及在极端环境下生存所需的生物化学适应。详细描述的病毒也可能扩大我们的病毒进化的知识。

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.