Genome Floreovirians have circular or linear single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) or double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) genomes. Based on genomic characteristics, the prototypical members of
Floreoviria are often referred to as CRESS-DNA viruses, which stands for circular, Rep-encoding ssDNA viruses, though this term also includes viruses of other realms. Among the atypical members of
Floreoviria, bidnaviruses and parvoviruses have linear ssDNA genomes, and papillomaviruses and polyomaviruses have circular dsDNA genomes. Most ssDNA viruses in the realm have
positive-sense genomes, excluding anelloviruses, which have negative-sense genomes, parvoviruses, which vary in their sense, and bidnaviruses, which have
ambisense genomes that are split into two molecules. Like bidnaviruses, many CRESS-DNA viruses have
multipartite genomes, such as
nanoviruses and geminiviruses.
Bacilladnaviruses have ssDNA genomes with a portion of the genome as dsDNA.
Structure of
human papillomavirus virions that are colored pink Floreovirian extracellular bodies (virions) consist of the genome and a surrounding protein shell called a
capsid. The capsid is
icosahedral in shape, usually with but sometimes with T = 3 symmetry. The virions of geminiviruses and bidnaviruses are atypical. Geminivirus capsids are in fact two incomplete capsids fused together. For bidnaviruses, the two molecules of the genome are packaged into two separate capsids. Floreovirian virions are not
enveloped.
Proteins Major capsid protein Floreovirians encode a major capsid protein, numerous copies of which form the capsid. The MCP has a single
jelly roll (SJR)
motif. This folded structure contains eight beta strands folded into two
beta sheets. The strands in each sheet are antiparallel to each other and connected through a series of loops. The two sheets, termed βBIDG and βCHEF, are arranged in such a manner that the βBIDG sheet forms the interior surface of the capsid, while the βCHEF sheet is mostly buried within the walls of the capsid. The loops of the MCP contribute to the features of the capsid's exterior surface and mediate interactions with specific
cellular receptors.
Replication-initiator protein Most floreovirians encode a replication (Rep) protein that contains a HUH superfamily
endonuclease domain and a superfamily 3 (SF3)
helicase domain. The HUH endonuclease domain is at the start of the protein (
N-terminus) and the SF3 helicase domain at the end (
C-terminus). Endonucleases are
enzymes that can cleave
phosphodiester bonds within a
polynucleotide chain. HUH endonucleases contain three conserved motifs: the UUTU motif, which is believed to be involved in recognizing
replication origins; the HUH motif, made of two
histidine (H) residues separated by a hydrophobic residue (U), which is involved with coordinating or
ions, which are necessary for endonuclease activity; and the YxxK/YxxKY motif, which is involved in dsDNA cleavage and
covalent attachment of Rep to DNA through its
tyrosine (Y) residue. The HUH endonuclease of floreovirians is often called the replication-initiator protein, or Rep, because of its role in commencing replication. The SF3 helicase unwinds dsDNA replicative forms and, for some floreovirians, packages genomes into empty capsids. It is characterized by three motifs that are presumed to allow Rep to have helicase activity during DNA elongation:
Walker A, Walker B, and motif C. An
arginine finger motif that may fuel helicase activity is also common.
Replication Circular ssDNA viruses in
Floreoviria replicate their genomes through
rolling circle replication. This process begins with a
host cell's
DNA polymerase replicating the ssDNA genome to produce a double-stranded form. The viral endonuclease (Rep) then recognizes a replication origin, binds to a specific site there, and
nicks the positive-sense strand. In the process, Rep binds to the 5′-end ("five prime end") of the nicked strand and releases the 3′-end ("three prime end") of the nicked strand as a free
hydroxyl (-OH) to prime DNA synthesis. A host DNA polymerase replicates the genome, extending the 3′-end of the positive strand using the negative strand as a template for DNA replication, gradually displacing the original nicked strand. After one round of replication around the genome, the replicated strand is nicked again, which creates a free circular ssDNA genome that may be packaged into newly constructed capsids or converted to dsDNA form for
transcription or further replication. For these viruses, the HUH endonuclease domain of Rep has been inactivated, and it functions as a replication origin recognition domain. For anelloviruses, the ancestral Rep protein has been lost, and they do not appear to encode replication proteins, so they rely entirely on host DNA
replisomes for replication.
Evolution Floreovirians have a relatively high rate of
substitution mutations. The reason for this is not fully understood, as floreovirians are replicated by host DNA polymerases, but is proposed to be at least partly because of
oxidative damage caused to individual
bases in ssDNA.
Genetic recombination is also frequent in CRESS-DNA viruses, causing new lineages to emerge. One example is
Porcine circovirus 3, which, as a result of recombination, encodes a porcine circovirus Rep protein and an avian circovirus capsid protein. Recombination can occur when polymerases switch templates when a gene on an ambisense strand is replicated and transcribed at the same time. Among floreovirians, recombination has been observed in anelloviruses, circoviruses, and parvoviruses.
Reassortment, in which genomic molecules from different viruses mix together to form new hybrid progeny, has been observed in multipartite plant CRESS-DNA viruses. ==Phylogenetics==