Newly discovered viruses reveal an evolutionary missing link
Researchers at the University of Miami have identified a group of previously unknown viruses that bridge an evolutionary gap between viruses and cellular protein compartments, a discovery with implications for both biotechnology and scientists' understanding of the origins of life.
Researchers at the University of Miami have discovered a set of previously unknown viruses that form a crucial evolutionary link between viruses and cellular protein structures known as encapsulins. This finding, published in Nature Communications, challenges the notion that encapsulins simply evolved from viruses, suggesting instead that viruses and encapsulins have evolved from one another repeatedly over millions of years.
The study focuses on proteins that adopt a specific three-dimensional structure called the HK97-fold, which is found in both viruses and encapsulins. These proteins can form protein shells that enclose biochemical reactions in various cellular lineages, including archaea and bacteria. Abelardo Aguilar, the lead author and a Ph.D. student, explains that these proteins build compartments with dual roles, contributing to our understanding of the origin of life and its early evolution.
By analyzing vast amounts of genetic data from diverse environmental samples using advanced bioinformatics tools, the researchers identified these new viruses. The study also provides insights into a potential molecular mechanism by which viruses and encapsulins may have evolved from each other, highlighting the possibility that viral capsids could facilitate biochemical reactions in their environments.
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