Cluster J mycobacteriophages: intron splicing in capsid and tail genes

PLoS One. 2013 Jul 9;8(7):e69273. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0069273. Print 2013.

Abstract

Bacteriophages isolated on Mycobacterium smegmatis mc(2)155 represent many distinct genomes sharing little or no DNA sequence similarity. The genomes are architecturally mosaic and are replete with genes of unknown function. A new group of genomes sharing substantial nucleotide sequences constitute Cluster J. The six mycobacteriophages forming Cluster J are morphologically members of the Siphoviridae, but have unusually long genomes ranging from 106.3 to 117 kbp. Reconstruction of the capsid by cryo-electron microscopy of mycobacteriophage BAKA reveals an icosahedral structure with a triangulation number of 13. All six phages are temperate and homoimmune, and prophage establishment involves integration into a tRNA-Leu gene not previously identified as a mycobacterial attB site for phage integration. The Cluster J genomes provide two examples of intron splicing within the virion structural genes, one in a major capsid subunit gene, and one in a tail gene. These genomes also contain numerous free-standing HNH homing endonuclease, and comparative analysis reveals how these could contribute to genome mosaicism. The unusual Cluster J genomes provide new insights into phage genome architecture, gene function, capsid structure, gene mobility, intron splicing, and evolution.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Bacteriolysis / genetics
  • Base Composition
  • Base Sequence
  • Capsid Proteins / chemistry
  • Capsid Proteins / genetics*
  • Cluster Analysis
  • DNA Transposable Elements
  • Gene Order
  • Genome Size
  • Genome, Viral
  • Introns
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mycobacteriophages / classification*
  • Mycobacteriophages / genetics*
  • Mycobacteriophages / ultrastructure
  • Open Reading Frames
  • Phylogeny
  • RNA Splicing
  • Viral Tail Proteins / chemistry
  • Viral Tail Proteins / genetics*
  • Virion / ultrastructure
  • Virus Integration / genetics

Substances

  • Capsid Proteins
  • DNA Transposable Elements
  • Viral Tail Proteins