VIRION
Non-enveloped capsid with a pseudo T=25 icosahedral symmetry. The capsid diameter is about 90 nm. The capsid shell consists of 720 hexon subunits arranged as 240 trimers and 12 vertex penton capsomers each with a fiber protruding from the surface.
GENOME
Monopartite, linear double-stranded DNA of 35-36kb encoding about 40 proteins. The genome has terminally redundant sequences which have inverted terminal repetitions (ITR). The terminal protein (TP) is covalently attached to each end of the genome.
GENE EXPRESSION
Transcription is nuclear, in two phases; early (replication), late (virion assembly). All genes are transcribed by host RNA pol II except virus-associated (VA) gene(s) of some fowl adenoviruses transcribed by RNA pol III. Genes transcribed by RNA pol II give rise to multiple mRNA that are produced by alternative splicing and use of different poly(A) sites.
ENZYMES
- DNA-directed DNA polymerase [POL]
- Protein-primed terminal transferase [POL on TP]
- Adenain (Peptidase C5) [Protease]
REPLICATION
NUCLEUS
- Attachment of the viral fiber glycoproteins to host receptors mediates endocytosis of the virus into the host cell and fiber shedding.
- Disruption of the endosome by lytic protein VI releases the viral capsid in the cytosol.
- Viral penetration into host nucleus.
- Transcription of early genes (E genes) by host RNA pol II, replication of the DNA genome by DNA strand displacement in the nucleus.
- Transcription of late genes (L genes) by host RNA pol II, mostly encoding for structural proteins.
- Assembly of new virions in the nucleus.
- Virions are released by lysis of the cell.