Hyaluronan Synthase of Chlorella Virus PBCV-1

• DOI: 10.1126/science.278.5344.1800
• Publication Date: 2002-07-27T09:35:26Z
• Authors: Paul L. DeAngelis; Wei Jing; Michael V. Graves; Dwight E. Burbank; James L. Van Etten
• Keywords: Glutamine-Fructose-6-Phosphate Transaminase (Isomerizing); 0301 basic medicine; 570; Genes, Viral; Molecular Sequence Data; Glycosyltransferases; Membrane Proteins; Chlorella; Plant Pathology; Xenopus Proteins; 540; Uridine Diphosphate Glucose Dehydrogenase; Recombinant Proteins; Substrate Specificity; 3. Good health; 03 medical and health sciences; Transferases; Phycodnaviridae; Amino Acid Sequence; Glucuronosyltransferase; Hyaluronic Acid; Hyaluronan Synthases; Sequence Alignment

Sequence analysis of the 330-kilobase genome virus PBCV-1 that infects a chlorella-like green algae revealed an open reading frame, A98R, with similarity to several hyaluronan synthases. Hyaluronan is essential polysaccharide found in higher animals as well few pathogenic bacteria. Expression A98R gene product Escherichia coli indicated recombinant protein authentic synthase. expressed early infection and produced infected algae. These results demonstrate can encode enzyme capable synthesizing carbohydrate polymer exists outside their pathogens.