Influence of viral genome properties on polymerase fidelity.

Gabriel Dupré, Romain Volmer
Author Information
  1. Gabriel Dupré: Ecole nationale vétérinaire de Toulouse, ENVT, INRAE, IHAP, UMR 1225, Université de Toulouse, 23 Chemin des Capelles, Toulouse 31076, France. Electronic address: gabriel.dupre@envt.fr.
  2. Romain Volmer: Ecole nationale vétérinaire de Toulouse, ENVT, INRAE, IHAP, UMR 1225, Université de Toulouse, 23 Chemin des Capelles, Toulouse 31076, France. Electronic address: romain.volmer@envt.fr.

Abstract

The first step of viral evolution takes place during genome replication via the error-prone viral polymerase. Among the mutants that arise through this process, only a few well-adapted variants will be selected by natural selection, renewing the viral genome population. Viral polymerase-mediated errors are thought to occur stochastically. However, accumulating evidence suggests that viral polymerase-mediated mutations are heterogeneously distributed throughout the viral genome. Here, we review work that supports this concept and provides mechanistic insights into how specific features of the viral genome could modulate viral polymerase-mediated errors. A predisposition to accumulate viral polymerase-mediated errors at specific loci in the viral genome may guide evolution to specific pathways, thus opening new directions of research to better understand viral evolutionary dynamics.

Keywords

MeSH Term

Mutation
Genome, Viral
Genotype

Word Cloud

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