Pandoravirus: Missing link discovered between viruses and cells

Pandoravirus: Missing link discovered between viruses and cells

In the article published in Science, the researchers announced they had discovered two new giant viruses:

• Pandoravirus salinus, on the coast of Chile;
• Pandoravirus dulcis, in a freshwater pond in Melbourne, Australia.

Detailed analysis has shown that these first two Pandoraviruses have virtually nothing in common with previously characterized giant viruses. What's more, only a very small percentage (6%) of proteins encoded by Pandoravirus salinus are similar to those already identified in other viruses or cellular organisms. With a genome of this size, Pandoravirus salinus has just demonstrated that viruses can be more complex than some eukaryotic cells[2]. Another unusual feature of Pandoraviruses is that they have no gene allowing them to build a protein like the capsid protein, which is the basic building block of traditional viruses.

Despite all these novel properties, Pandoraviruses display the essential characteristics of other viruses in that they contain no ribosome, produce no energy and do not divide.

This groundbreaking research included an analysis of the Pandoravirus salinus proteome, which proved that the proteins making it up are consistent with those predicted by the virus' genome sequence. Pandoraviruses thus use the universal genetic code shared by all living organisms on the planet.

This shows just how much more there is to learn regarding microscopic biodiversity as soon as new environments are considered. The simultaneous discovery of two specimens of this new virus family in sediments located 15,000 km apart indicates that Pandoraviruses, which were completely unknown until now, are very likely not rare.

It definitively bridges the gap between viruses and cells -- a gap that was proclaimed as dogma at the very outset of modern virology back in the 1950s.

It also suggests that cell life could have emerged with a far greater variety of pre-cellular forms than those conventionally considered, as the new giant virus has almost no equivalent among the three recognized domains of cellular life, namely eukaryota (or eukaryotes), eubacteria, and archaea.

Notes

[1] Arslan D, Legendre M, Seltzer V, Abergel C, Claverie JM (2011) "Distant Mimivirus relative with a larger genome highlights the fundamental features of Megaviridae." PNAS. 108:17486-91

[2] Parasitic microsporidia of the Encephalitozoon genus in particular.

Welcome to SUV System Ltd!

SUV System Ltd is ISO 90012008 Certified electronics distributor with 10 years of experiences.

We have built up long term business relationship with about many companies which are stockers and authorized agents. we have a steady and reliable supply to meet customer's demands to the greatest extent .Confidently, we are able to lower your cost and support your business with our years of professional service.

SUV System Ltd is Electronic Components Distributor Supplies,Find Quality Electronic Components Supplies Products IC(Integrated Circuits),Connectors,Capacitor,Resistors,Diodes,Transistors,LED at Suvsystem.com. Sourcing Other Energy, Environment, Excess Inventory Products from Manufacturers and Suppliers at Suvsystem.com

Electronic Components distributor:http://www.suvsystem.com

Connectors Distributor:http://www.suvsystem.com/l/Connectors-1.html

IC Distributor:http://www.suvsystem.com/l/IC(Integrated-Circuits)-1.html

LED Distributor:http://www.suvsystem.com/l/LED-1.html

Capacitor Distributor:http://www.suvsystem.com/l/Capacitor-1.html

Transistor Distributor:http://www.suvsystem.com/l/Transistors-1.html

Resistor Distributor:http://www.suvsystem.com/l/Resistors-1.html

Diode Distributor:http://www.suvsystem.com/l/Diodes-1.html

SUV System Ltd insists on the managing faith ofsincereness,speciality,foresight, win-win,so we build up stable-relationship customers located all over the world, including the States, Europe, Argentina, UAE, Malaysia, Australia,and India etc

we are focus on the following fields,and hope we can help you.

Atmel IC MOTOROLA IC Resistor Arrays Texas Instruments(TI) IC HARRIS IC Diodes Inc Electronic News INTERSIL IC ROHM Resistors ON Transistors ST Transistors Resistors Current Sensors Resistors About US TDK IC Digital Transistors Transistors Freescale Chip Inductors Rectifier Diodes Vishay resistors MURATA IC TOSHIBA Transistors LED part Low Ohmic Resistors High Precision Resistors Industrial IC AD IC Capacitor Cypress IC LED Schottky Diodes BB IC IR Diodes Switches Discrete Semiconductor Transistors MAXIM IC Civil IC LITTELFUSE Diodes Chip Ferrite Beads ON Diodes
http://www.suvsystem.com/a/6582.aspx