Molecular biology

VIRION

GENOME

Monopartite, open circular, double stranded DNA of about 7200 base pairs with discontinuities in both strands: one in the transcribed strand and one to three in the non-transcribed strand.

GENE EXPRESSION

ORF1 polyprotein is presumably cleaved into several chains by viral protease.

REPLICATION

CYTOPLASMIC/NUCLEAR

1. Virion interacts with a cellular receptor, and enters the cell.
2. The dsDNA genome is transported to the nucleus, where it is transcribed by host RNA polymerase II
3. RNA translation produces viral proteins.
4. genomic RNA is retrotranscribed in the cytoplasm into new dsDNA genomes
5. Genomes are encapsidated with capsid protein, releasing neo virions.