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

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Derek J. Taylor, Matthew J. Ballinger, Shaun M. Bowman, Jeremy A. Bruenn
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: PeerJ Inc. 2013-03-01
Series:PeerJ
Subjects:
Online Access:https://peerj.com/articles/50.pdf
_version_ 1797418647593943040
author Derek J. Taylor
Matthew J. Ballinger
Shaun M. Bowman
Jeremy A. Bruenn
author_facet Derek J. Taylor
Matthew J. Ballinger
Shaun M. Bowman
Jeremy A. Bruenn
author_sort Derek J. Taylor
collection DOAJ
description 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.
first_indexed 2024-03-09T06:36:56Z
format Article
id doaj.art-23717bd67f0549358e74b6b337aa3d9a
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2167-8359
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-09T06:36:56Z
publishDate 2013-03-01
publisher PeerJ Inc.
record_format Article
series PeerJ
spelling doaj.art-23717bd67f0549358e74b6b337aa3d9a2023-12-03T10:56:22ZengPeerJ Inc.PeerJ2167-83592013-03-011e5010.7717/peerj.5050Virus-host co-evolution under a modified nuclear genetic codeDerek J. Taylor0Matthew J. Ballinger1Shaun M. Bowman2Jeremy A. Bruenn3Department of Biological Sciences, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USADepartment of Biological Sciences, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USADepartment of Biological Sciences, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USADepartment of Biological Sciences, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USAAmong 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.https://peerj.com/articles/50.pdfGenetic codeYeastTotivirusPaleovirologyCo-evolutionNIRV
spellingShingle Derek J. Taylor
Matthew J. Ballinger
Shaun M. Bowman
Jeremy A. Bruenn
Virus-host co-evolution under a modified nuclear genetic code
PeerJ
Genetic code
Yeast
Totivirus
Paleovirology
Co-evolution
NIRV
title Virus-host co-evolution under a modified nuclear genetic code
title_full Virus-host co-evolution under a modified nuclear genetic code
title_fullStr Virus-host co-evolution under a modified nuclear genetic code
title_full_unstemmed Virus-host co-evolution under a modified nuclear genetic code
title_short Virus-host co-evolution under a modified nuclear genetic code
title_sort virus host co evolution under a modified nuclear genetic code
topic Genetic code
Yeast
Totivirus
Paleovirology
Co-evolution
NIRV
url https://peerj.com/articles/50.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT derekjtaylor virushostcoevolutionunderamodifiednucleargeneticcode
AT matthewjballinger virushostcoevolutionunderamodifiednucleargeneticcode
AT shaunmbowman virushostcoevolutionunderamodifiednucleargeneticcode
AT jeremyabruenn virushostcoevolutionunderamodifiednucleargeneticcode