@article{PAR00013064,
  title = {{I}dentification of giant {M}imivirus protein functions using {RNA} interference},
  author = {{S}obhy, {H}. and {L}a {S}cola, {B}. and {P}agnier, {I}. and {R}aoult, {D}idier and {C}olson, {P}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{G}enomic analysis of giant viruses, such as {M}imivirus, has revealed that more than half of the putative genes have no known functions ({ORF}ans). {W}e knocked down {M}imivirus genes using short interfering {RNA} (si{RNA}) as a proof of concept to determine the functions of giant virus {ORF}ans. {A}s fibers are easy to observe, we targeted a gene encoding a protein absent in a {M}imivirus mutant devoid of fibers as well as 3 genes encoding products identified in a protein concentrate of fibers, including one {ORF}an and one gene of unknown function. {W}e found that knocking down these four genes was associated with depletion or modification of the fibers. {O}ur strategy of silencing {ORF}an genes in giant viruses opens a way to identify its complete gene repertoire and may clarify the role of these genes, differentiating between junk {DNA} and truly used genes. {U}sing this strategy, we were able to annotate 4 proteins in {M}imivirus and 30 homologous proteins in other giant viruses. {I}n addition, we were able to annotate > 500 proteins from cellular organisms and 100 from metagenomic databases.},
  keywords = {{M}imivirus ; giant virus ; {M}egavirales ; fiber ; short interfering {RNA} ; {RNA} ; interference ; nucleocytoplasmic large {DNA} virus},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{F}rontiers in {M}icrobiology},
  volume = {6},
  numero = {},
  pages = {art. 345 [11 p.]},
  ISSN = {1664-302{X}},
  year = {2015},
  DOI = {10.3389/fmicb.2015.00345},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/{PAR}00013064},
}