Genome Efunavirians have circular,
positive-sense, single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) genomes. Inovirus genomes are 5.5–10.6 kilobases (kb) in length and encode 7–15 proteins. The genomes of plectroviruses are 4.5–8.3 kb long and encode 4–13 proteins. Paulinoviruses have smaller genomes and encode fewer predicted proteins than inoviruses and plectroviruses, at 5.6–5.9 kb in length with 8–10 proteins. A unique trait of viruses in the plectrovirus genera
Suturavirus and
Vespertiliovirus is that the
messenger RNA (mRNA) sequence UGA is not a
stop codon but encodes
tryptophan like in their hosts.
Proteins Efunavirians encode a FtsK family
ATPase and
hydrophobic major capsid proteins (MCPs). For
bacteriophage M13, the most widely studied inovirus, extracellular particles (
virions) contain 2,700 copies of the MCP. The domains at the start of the MCP's
amino acid chain (
N-terminus) are negatively charged, hydrophilic, and positioned on the outside of the virion. Its central domains are hydrophobic and stabilize interactions between subunits, and amino acid residues of the domains at the end of its amino acid sequence (
C-terminus) interact with DNA
phosphate groups of the genome. M13 also encodes minor structural proteins found at the ends of the virion. The FtsK ATPase pumps viral ssDNA through the cytoplasmic membrane of the host during extrusion from the host cell, using
ATP to do so. To do this, FtsK forms
hexamers that contain six subunits of the protein. In the region near the N-terminus, there are transmembrane domains. Near the C-terminus, there is a motor that translocates DNA. Between these two areas is a "linker" region. Efunavirians also encode proteins involved in replication, including
endonucleases that initiate
rolling circle replication. Viruses of the plectrovirus genus
Vespertiliovirus encode a
transposase that takes the place of the replication-initiator protein encoded by other efunavirians.
Structure The virions of efunavirians have either a flexible, filamentous shape or are rigid and rod-like. Virions contain the genome inside a
capsid that has helical symmetry. At the ends of the virion are minor capsid proteins involved in host recognition and binding. The main helical part of the capsid is made of MCPs, while the ends (of M13) contain five copies each of four other proteins, two at one end and two at the other end. The mass ratio of proteins and DNA determines virion symmetry, of which there are two types of helical symmetry observed in inoviruses. Virion length depends on genome length and
nucleotide rise, so there is no theoretical limit to how much DNA can be packaged into virions. Inoviruses have filamentous virions that are 6–10 nanometers(nm) in diameter and 600–2,500nm in length. One end is blunt, and the other end is rounded. Like inoviruses, paulinoviruses have filamentous virions with a diameter of 7–12nm and a length of 620–830nm. Plectroviruses have asymmetric, nearly straight, rod-shaped virions 10–16nm in diameter and 70–280nm long. One end of the virion is rounded, the other varying in shape. Compared to inoviruses and paulinoviruses, plectroviruses are shorter and wider.
Life cycle Efunavirians start infection by first attaching to the exterior of target cells. Using M13 an example, infection starts when the viral protein p3 interacts with the top of a bacterial
pilus, which acts as an adhesion receptor. This triggers pilus retraction, bringing the virion closer to the bacterium where it can interact with the TolQRA co-receptor, which functions as the entry receptor. The viral genome is then translocated into the
cytoplasm. Some receptors of inoviruses are pili encoded by
plasmids, which can be transferred to new bacterial strains
laterally, making those bacteria susceptible to infection. Once inside the cell, the genome is replicated. The replication method of efunavirians varies, but all create intermediate ssDNA molecules. One method, used by inoviruses, paulinoviruses, and some plectroviruses, is rolling circle replication (RCR), which is catalyzed by endonucleases. The most common endonuclease among efunavirians belongs to the Rep_trans family. Some also encode RepL family replication proteins and HUH superfamily endonucleases. Some plectroviruses do not encode replication proteins but instead produce ssDNA intermediates during
transposition by DDE superfamily transposases. Genomes may persist extrachromosomally, like a plasmid, or they may be integrated into the host cell's genome, either by a virus-encoded
integrase or transposase or by host enzymes. Efunavirians are not considered to be
lytic or
lysogenic, because they are released from cells by extrusion, causing a chronic infection without killing the host. At the same time as replication, structural and assembly proteins integrate into the
cell membrane, forming a pore for virion extrusion through the membrane. During extrusion, virions are formed as rod-shaped replicative form DNA is ejected through the host cell membrane. MCPs embedded in the membrane wrap around the genome helically, replacing helix destabilizing proteins, until the virion dissociates from the membrane and releases from the cell. One end is extruded first, following by the main helical part of the virion, then the other end. Extrusion occurs continuously during infection while the host cell remains intact and viable. Usually, however, infected cells have reduced
growth rates. ==Distribution==