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0The research paper describes the groundbreaking discovery of ESCRT-III and Vps4 ATPase homologues within the genomes of mirusviruses and some nucleocytoviruses. Traditionally, enveloped viruses were thought to only hijack host cell machinery to facilitate membrane remodeling and budding, but these sources demonstrate that certain large DNA viruses actually encode their own functional components. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that mirusviruses likely acquired these genes very early in their evolution, potentially dating back to the initial diversification of eukaryotes. Structurally, these viral proteins maintain the essential alpha-helical cores and interaction motifs necessary to drive membrane constriction and scission. By possessing a tailored ESCRT toolkit, these viruses may achieve greater autonomy and more precise control over their replication cycle. This findings suggest a significant shift in our understanding of how viruses manage intracellular trafficking and egress through complex cellular membranes.
References:
Medvedeva S, Guyet U, Koonin E V, et al. Large eukaryotic DNA viruses encode ESCRT machinery for membrane remodelling[J]. Nature Microbiology, 2026: 1-6.
