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University of Nebraska–Lincoln

Plant Pathology

J.L. Van Etten's Research

Dr. Van Etten is studying a family of recently discovered large, polyhedral, plaque forming, dsDNA viruses that replicate in certain eukaryotic unicellular Chlorella-like green algae.  One surprising feature of these viruses is that at least some of them encode for DNA modification and restriction systems.  In fact the virus infected algae are a new source of type II DNA restriction endonucleases and the first source from a nonprokaryotic system.  The plaque assay, the ability to synchronously infect the host, the short life cycle, and the ability of the viruses to undergo homologous recombination make them excellent model systems for studying DNA replication and gene expression in a photosynthetic eukaryote.

Most recent publications  

  • Frohns, F., A. Kasmann, D. Kramer, B. Schafer, M. Mehmel, M. Kang, J.L. Van Etten, S. Gazzarrini, A. Moroni, and G. Thiel. (2006). Potassium channels of chlorella viruses cause rapid depolarization of host cells during infection.  J. Virol. 80, 2437-2444.
  • Agarkova, I.V., D.D. Dunigan, and J.L Van Etten. (2006). Virion-associated restriction  endonucleases of chloroviruses.  J. Virol. 80, 8114-8123.
  • Gazzarrini S., M. Kang, S. Epimashko, J.L. Van Etten, J. Dainty, G. Thiel, and A. Moroni. (2006). Chlorella virus MT325 encodes water and potassium channels that interact synergistically. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 103, 5355-5360.
  • Dunigan, D.D., L.A. Fitzgerald, and J.L. Van Etten. (2006). Phycodnaviruses: a peek at  genetic diversity. Virus Research 117, 119-132.
  • Hertel, B., S. Tayefeh,  M. Mehmel,  S.M. Kast, J.L. Van Etten,  A. Moroni, and G. Thiel, (2006).  Elongation of outer transmembrane domain alters function of miniature K+ channel Kcv.  J. Membrane Biol. 210, 1-9.
  • Chan, S-H., Z. Zhu, D.D. Dunigan, J.L. Van Etten, and S-Y. Xu. (2006). Cloning of Nt.CviQII nicking endonuclease and its cognate methyltransferase: M.CviQII methylates AG sequences.  Prot. Express. Purif. 49, 138-150.
  • Yamada, T., H. Onimatsu, and J.L. Van Etten. (2006). Chlorella viruses. In: Adv. in Virus  Res. (K. Maramorosch and A.J. Shatkin, eds). Elsevier Inc. 66, 293-336.
  • Agarkova, I.V., D.D. Dunigan, and J.L. Van Etten. (2006). Virion-associated nucleases of chloroviruses.  Abstracts Am. Soc. Virology. p. 121.
  • Dunigan, D.D., R. Cerny, L.C. Lane, L.A. Fitzgerald, I.V. Agarkova, B.J. Kronschnabel, and J.L. Van Etten. (2006). Comparative proteomic analysis of chloroviruses. Abstracts Am. Soc. Virology. p. 188.
  • Yanai-Balser, G.M., G.A. Duncan, and J.L. Van Etten. (2006). Time course microarray analyses of gene expression in the PBCV-1 virus. Am. Soc. Virology. p. 230.
  • Boucher, P.T., L.A. Fitzgerald, K. Suhre, and J.L. Van Etten. (2006). Putative gene promoters in the chlorella viruses. Am. Soc. Virology. p. 230.