Summary
The genetic information of many viruses is divided between separately encapsidated nucleic acid molecules. A simple evolutionary model is constructed to explain this phenomenon. All multicompartmental viruses infect plants, and most are RNA viruses. The former fact may be due to the high transmission multiplicities enjoyed by plant viruses. The latter may be due to the low replication fidelity of RNA, although another explanation is also offered. The logic of the analysis is contrasted with that of previous explanations. In particular, this paper proceeds from a “selfish DNA” viewpoint. It is not necessary to suppose that the division of the genome fills any adaptive function for the virus. The theory makes testable predictions about the parameters of multicompartmental viruses.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Bruening G (1977) Plant covirus systems: two-component systems. In: Fraenkel-Conrat H, Wagner RR (eds) Comprehensive virology, vol 11. Plenum, New York, pp 55–142
Cole CN, Baltimore D (1973) Defective interfering particles of poliovirus. III. Interference and enrichment. J Mol Biol 76: 345–361
Crow JF (in press) The importance of recombination. In: Michod R, Levin B (eds) The evolution of sex: an examination of current ideas. Sinauer, Sunderland MA
Huang AS (1973) Defective interfering viruses. Annu Rev Microbiol 27:101–117
Huang AS, Baltimore D (1977) Defective interfering animal viruses. In: Fraenkel-Conrat H, Wagner RR (eds) Comprehensive virology, vol 10. Plenum, New York, pp 73–116
Jaspars EMJ (1974) Plant viruses with a multipartite genome. Adv Virus Res 19:37–149
Kassanis B (1968) Satellitism and related phenomena in plant and animal viruses. Adv Virus Res 13:147–180
Matthews REF (1970) Plant virology. Academic Press, New York, p 253
Matthews REF (1979) Classification and nomenclature of viruses. Intervirology 12:150–287
Pressing J, Reanney DC (1984) Divided genomes and intrinsic noise. J Mol Evol 20:135–146
Primrose SB, Dunnock NJ (1980) Introduction to modern virology. Blackwell, Oxford, p 44
Reanney DC (1982) The evolution of RNA viruses. Annu Rev Microbiol 36:47–73
Sela I (1981) Plant—virus interactions related to resistance and localization of viral infections. Adv Virus Res 26:201–237
Spiegelman S, Mills DR, Kramer FR (1975) The extracellular evolution of structure in replicating RNA molecules. In: Miller IR (ed) Stability and origin of biological information. Halsted, New York
Van Vloten-Doting L, Jaspars EMJ (1977) Plant covirus systems: three component systems. In: Fraenkel-Conrat H, Wagner RR (eds) Comprehensive virology, vol 11. Plenum, New York
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Nee, S. The evolution of multicompartmental genomes in viruses. J Mol Evol 25, 277–281 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02603110
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02603110