Giant viruses and the origin of modern eukaryotes.

Giant viruses and the origin of modern eukaryotes.
Curr Opin Microbiol. 2016 Feb 16;31:44-49
Authors: Forterre P, Gaïa M
Abstract
Several authors have suggested that viruses from the NucleoCytoplasmic Large DNA Viruses group (NCLDV) have played an important role in the origin of modern eukaryotes. Notably, the viral eukaryogenesis theory posits that the nucleus originated from an ancient NCLDV-related virus. Focusing on the viral factory instead of the virion adds credit to this hypothesis, but also suggests alternative scenarios. Beside a role in the emergence of the nucleus, ancient NCLDV may have provided new genes and/or chromosomes to the proto-eukaryotic lineage. Phylogenetic analyses suggest that NCLDV informational proteins, related to those of Archaea and Eukarya, were either recruited by ancient NCLDV from proto-eukaryotes and/or transferred to proto-eukaryotes, in agreement with the antiquity of NCLDV and their possible role in eukaryogenesis.
PMID: 26894379 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Source: Current Opinion in Microbiology - February 16, 2016 Category: Microbiology Authors: Forterre P, Gaïa M Tags: Curr Opin Microbiol Source Type: research