Elucidating the transcription cycle of the UV-inducible hyperthermophilic archaeal virus SSV1 by DNA microarrays

• Published in: Virology (New York, N.Y.) Vol. 365; no. 1; pp. 48 - 59
• Main Authors: Fröls, Sabrina, Gordon, Paul M.K, Panlilio, Mayi Arcellana, Schleper, Christa, Sensen, Christoph W
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 15.08.2007
• Subjects: 60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES; Archaea; BACTERIOPHAGES; DNA; DNA damage; DNA DAMAGES; DNA microarray; Fuselloviridae; Fuselloviridae - physiology; Fuselloviridae - radiation effects; Gene Expression Regulation, Archaeal - genetics; GENE REGULATION; GENES; Hyperthermophiles; INDUCTION; Infectious Disease; IRRADIATION; LIFE CYCLE; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; SSV1; Sulfolobus; Sulfolobus - genetics; Sulfolobus - physiology; Sulfolobus solfataricus; TRANSCRIPTION; Transcription, Genetic; Ultraviolet Rays; UV induction; Virus; Virus cycle; Virus; DNA microarray; Hyperthermophiles; UV induction; Archaea; DNA damage; Sulfolobus; Virus cycle; SSV1; Fuselloviridae
• ISSN: 0042-6822; 1096-0341
• DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2007.03.033

Abstract The spindle-shaped Sulfolobus virus SSV1 was the first of a series of unusual and uniquely shaped viruses isolated from hyperthermophilic Archaea. Using whole-genome microarrays we show here that the circular 15.5 kb DNA genome of SSV1 exhibits a chronological regulation of its transcription upon UV irradiation, reminiscent to the life cycles of bacteriophages and eukaryotic viruses. The transcriptional cycle starts with a small UV-specific transcript and continues with early transcripts on both its flanks. The late transcripts appear after the onset of viral replication and are extended to their full lengths towards the end of the approximately 8.5 h cycle. While we detected only small differences in genome-wide analysis of the host Sulfolobus solfataricus comparing infected versus uninfected strains, we found a marked difference with respect to the strength and speed of the general UV response of the host. Models for the regulation of the virus cycle, and putative functions of genes in SSV1 are presented.