Cytochrome b5 occurrence in giant and other viruses belonging to the phylum Nucleocytoviricota
Abstract Cytochrome b5 is an electron transport protein found in eukaryotes and bacteria, and plays roles in energy production, lipid biosynthesis and cytochrome P450 biochemistry. Here we report that genes for cytochrome b5 occur broadly among viruses in the class Megaviricetes isolated from the de...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-02-01
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| Series: | npj Viruses |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s44298-025-00091-3 |
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| author | David C. Lamb Jared V. Goldstone Djamal Brahim Belhaouari Julien Andréani Ayesha Farooqi Michael J. Allen Steven L. Kelly Bernard La Scola John J. Stegeman |
| author_facet | David C. Lamb Jared V. Goldstone Djamal Brahim Belhaouari Julien Andréani Ayesha Farooqi Michael J. Allen Steven L. Kelly Bernard La Scola John J. Stegeman |
| author_sort | David C. Lamb |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Cytochrome b5 is an electron transport protein found in eukaryotes and bacteria, and plays roles in energy production, lipid biosynthesis and cytochrome P450 biochemistry. Here we report that genes for cytochrome b5 occur broadly among viruses in the class Megaviricetes isolated from the deep ocean, freshwater and terrestrial sources, and human patients. Transcriptional analysis showed that Mimivirus bradfordmassiliense cytochrome b5 is expressed in the host and has characteristic spectral properties. Viral cytochrome b5s have either a unique N-terminal transmembrane anchor or are predicted to be soluble proteins. Virus cytochrome b5 proteins share 45–95% sequence identity with one another but no more than 25% identity with that in Acanthamoeba castellanii, a host for many giant viruses. Thus, the origin of cytochrome b5 genes in giant viruses remains unknown. Our findings raise questions regarding the evolution and diversity of cytochrome b5, and about the origin of viral haemoproteins in general. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-37e9c079b93d48f1993496ffb3bc9735 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2948-1767 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | npj Viruses |
| spelling | doaj-art-37e9c079b93d48f1993496ffb3bc97352025-08-20T02:48:30ZengNature Portfolionpj Viruses2948-17672025-02-013111110.1038/s44298-025-00091-3Cytochrome b5 occurrence in giant and other viruses belonging to the phylum NucleocytoviricotaDavid C. Lamb0Jared V. Goldstone1Djamal Brahim Belhaouari2Julien Andréani3Ayesha Farooqi4Michael J. Allen5Steven L. Kelly6Bernard La Scola7John J. Stegeman8Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences, Swansea UniversityBiology Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods HoleDepartment of Veterinary Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M UniversityMicrobes Evolution Phylogeny and Infection (MEPHI), UR D-258, Aix-Marseille UniversityFaculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences, Swansea UniversityDepartment of Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of ExeterFaculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences, Swansea UniversityMicrobes Evolution Phylogeny and Infection (MEPHI), UR D-258, Aix-Marseille UniversityBiology Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods HoleAbstract Cytochrome b5 is an electron transport protein found in eukaryotes and bacteria, and plays roles in energy production, lipid biosynthesis and cytochrome P450 biochemistry. Here we report that genes for cytochrome b5 occur broadly among viruses in the class Megaviricetes isolated from the deep ocean, freshwater and terrestrial sources, and human patients. Transcriptional analysis showed that Mimivirus bradfordmassiliense cytochrome b5 is expressed in the host and has characteristic spectral properties. Viral cytochrome b5s have either a unique N-terminal transmembrane anchor or are predicted to be soluble proteins. Virus cytochrome b5 proteins share 45–95% sequence identity with one another but no more than 25% identity with that in Acanthamoeba castellanii, a host for many giant viruses. Thus, the origin of cytochrome b5 genes in giant viruses remains unknown. Our findings raise questions regarding the evolution and diversity of cytochrome b5, and about the origin of viral haemoproteins in general.https://doi.org/10.1038/s44298-025-00091-3 |
| spellingShingle | David C. Lamb Jared V. Goldstone Djamal Brahim Belhaouari Julien Andréani Ayesha Farooqi Michael J. Allen Steven L. Kelly Bernard La Scola John J. Stegeman Cytochrome b5 occurrence in giant and other viruses belonging to the phylum Nucleocytoviricota npj Viruses |
| title | Cytochrome b5 occurrence in giant and other viruses belonging to the phylum Nucleocytoviricota |
| title_full | Cytochrome b5 occurrence in giant and other viruses belonging to the phylum Nucleocytoviricota |
| title_fullStr | Cytochrome b5 occurrence in giant and other viruses belonging to the phylum Nucleocytoviricota |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cytochrome b5 occurrence in giant and other viruses belonging to the phylum Nucleocytoviricota |
| title_short | Cytochrome b5 occurrence in giant and other viruses belonging to the phylum Nucleocytoviricota |
| title_sort | cytochrome b5 occurrence in giant and other viruses belonging to the phylum nucleocytoviricota |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s44298-025-00091-3 |
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