Viruses with more than 1,000 genes: Mamavirus, a new Acanthamoeba polyphaga mimivirus strain, and reannotation of Mimivirus genes

Genome Biol Evol. 2011:3:737-42. doi: 10.1093/gbe/evr048. Epub 2011 Jun 24.

Abstract

The genome sequence of the Mamavirus, a new Acanthamoeba polyphaga mimivirus strain, is reported. With 1,191,693 nt in length and 1,023 predicted protein-coding genes, the Mamavirus has the largest genome among the known viruses. The genomes of the Mamavirus and the previously described Mimivirus are highly similar in both the protein-coding genes and the intergenic regions. However, the Mamavirus contains an extra 5'-terminal segment that encompasses primarily disrupted duplicates of genes present elsewhere in the genome. The Mamavirus also has several unique genes including a small regulatory polyA polymerase subunit that is shared with poxviruses. Detailed analysis of the protein sequences of the two Mimiviruses led to a substantial amendment of the functional annotation of the viral genomes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural

MeSH terms

  • Acanthamoeba / virology*
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • DNA Viruses / genetics*
  • Genome, Viral / genetics*
  • Mimiviridae / genetics
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Phylogeny
  • Polynucleotide Adenylyltransferase / classification
  • Polynucleotide Adenylyltransferase / genetics
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Species Specificity
  • Viral Proteins / classification
  • Viral Proteins / genetics*

Substances

  • Viral Proteins
  • Polynucleotide Adenylyltransferase