Notes on Genus: Endornavirus

no particles

Type member: Vicia faba endornavirus

Contents

• Members of this Genus
• General Description
• Morphology
• Electron Micrograph
• Genome
• Genus Genomic Organization
• Genome Map
• Type Member Genomic Organization
• All Known Sequences
• Curated Sequences

General Description

The genus Endornavirus is currently the only member of the family Endornaviridae. It contains entities previously considered as large (>10kb) endogenous double-stranded RNAs. They can replicate independently of their host and can be regarded as RNA plasmids but they have not been shown to be transmitted except, presumably, through seed. There are no distinct particles and sequences can be often be detected in apparently healthy plants. They encode a single large ORF that has similarities to the replication proteins of the alpha-like supergroup of (single-stranded) RNA viruses.

Morphology

There are no virions.

Genome

Monopartite, linear, double stranded RNA >10 kb in size.

Genus Genomic Organization

There is a single ORF encoding a replication protein that has conserved sequence motifs characteristic of an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and an RNA helicase.

Type Member Genomic Organization

The sequence (17,635 nt) encodes a single, large, replication protein of 655 kDa.