Bacteriophages with ssRNA

René Olsthoorn, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden, The Netherlands
Jan van Duin, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands

Published online: July 2011

DOI: 10.1002/9780470015902.a0000778.pub3

The single-stranded ribonucleic acid (ssRNA) phages are small icosahedral viruses which infect their host via F- or polar pili. The best-characterised are those infecting Escherichia coli, a Gram-negative bacterium found in the gut and faecal sewage. The ssRNA phages are members of the Leviviridae family, which includes the two genera Levivirus and Allolevivirus. The family presently comprises about 100 isolates including the well-known MS2 and Q coliphages.Their genome size ranges from 3400 to 4300 nt and codes for four proteins. The genome of ssRNA phages adopts a unique structure that regulates translation of the four genes, confers RNase resistance in the bacterial cytoplasm, ensures recognition by replicase and facilitates encapsidation by capsid or coat proteins. The interaction between RNA and coat protein by virtue of its high specificity and strength is used in many molecular biological applications.

Key Concepts:

  • ssRNA phages are members of the Leviviridae family which comprises the genera Levivirus and Allolevivirus.
  • ssRNA phages infect their hosts via pili.
  • The nonenveloped quasi-icosahedral shell of the virion has a T=3 surface lattice.
  • RNA inside the virion is structured.
  • The genome encodes four types of proteins: maturation, coat, lysis and replicase.
  • Replication requires the use of host proteins.
  • Translation of the genes is regulated by RNA secondary structure.
  • Forced evolution experiments reveal constraints on RNA secondary structure.
  • Phage particles can be used to display foreign epitopes.
  • RNA phages are used as indicator organisms for the presence of pathogens in drink and surface water.

Keywords: RNA; phage; translation; replication; evolution; RNA recombination; RNA secondary structure; index organism; sewage; ribosome; fitness

Figure 1. Schematic view of an RNA bacteriophage. The RNA is highly ordered and has very few unpaired regions.
Figure 2. Genetic maps of group A and B RNA coliphages. Repression of replicase translation by the coat protein is shown. Lysis overlaps coat and replicase genes in the +1 frame.
Figure 3. RNA phages attached to the F-pili of E. coli. From Fiers (1975).
Figure 4. Example of forced evolution showing several pathways leading from the non-viable mutant 45 to various viable revertants. The start codon and Shine-Dalgarno sequence of the MS2 coat gene are boxed. Base changes with respect to wild type are highlighted in mutant 45. Highlighted bases in revertants indicate changes with respect to mutant 45. Thermodynamic stabilities were calculated on the mfold webserver at the University at Albany, State University of New York using version 2.3 energies, according to de Smit and van Duin (2003). Reproduced from Olsthoorn et al. (1994) with permission from Nature Publishing Group.
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RNA Viruses | Viruses Infecting Bacteria
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Article Title: Bacteriophages with ssRNA
 
How to Cite close
Olsthoorn, René, and van Duin, Jan(Jul 2011) Bacteriophages with ssRNA. In: eLS. John Wiley & Sons Ltd, Chichester. http://www.els.net [doi: 10.1002/9780470015902.a0000778.pub3]