Molecular mechanism of the alternative expression of the Chlorella virus CVK2 chitosanase gene
Hiramatsu, S.; Ishihara, S.; Fujie, M.; Yamada, T.
Nucleic Acids Symposium Series 37: 141-142
1997
ISSN/ISBN: 0261-3166 PMID: 9586039 Document Number: 483761
A novel viral strategy for expression of two mRNAs from a single gene yielding two products with seemingly different functions (alternative gene expression) has be found. The vChta-1 gene of Chlorella virus CVK2 produced two functional chitosanase proteins with apparently different roles in viral infection: The larger 65-kDa chitosanase assembled into virion and presumably function at the beginning of infection, while the smaller 37-kDa enzyme remains in the host cytoplasm where it most likely aids in the digestion of the host cell wall prior to viral release. These predicted activities are essential for a cycle of viral infection. The dual expression of the vChta-1 gene most likely occurred by read-through into a downstream gene, ORF245.