Alphapleolipovirus HHPV1, also known as Haloarcula hispanica pleomorphic virus 1 (HHPV-1) is a virus of the family Pleolipoviridae. It is a double stranded DNA virus that infects the halophilicarchaeonHaloarcula hispanica.[1] It has a number of unique features unlike any previously described virus.[2][3]
The virions are enveloped and pleomorphic is shape. The envelope contains a variety of lipids including cardiolipins, phosphatidylglycerols, phosphatidylglycerophosphate methyl esters and phosphatidylglycerosulfates. There are two major proteins in the envelope — VP3 (12kilodaltons in weight) and VP4 (60kilodaltons in weight).[1]
The virions exit the host without lysis suggesting a budding mechanism.[1]
Genome
The genome is a single molecule of double stranded DNA, circular, 8082 base pairs in length with a G+C content of 55.8%. It has eight open reading frames (ORFs). VP3 and VP4 are encoded by ORF3 and ORF4 respectively.[1]
ORF1 is probably a replication initiation protein. ORF3 encodes an integral membrane protein with a 50 amino acid signal sequence and two transmembrane regions. Before the C-terminal transmembrane domain is a coiled-coil region. ORF7 contains a NTPase domain but its function is not clear.[1]
Taxonomy
Examination of the proteins and genome organisation of this virus suggests that it related to the single stranded DNA virus Halorubrum pleomorphic virus 1, the plasmid pHK2 and a region within the archeon Haloferax volcanii. It seems likely that the plasmid pHK2 may be a virus that can form circular plasmids and that the region within Haloferax volcanii is a prophage.[1]
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