Question about Pox Virus Replication

[CCLCMer]

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Can one of you micro gurus help me out with something that is really confusing me? I know that pox viruses are unusual for DNA viruses because they replicate in the cytoplasm and not the nucleus. Because of this, they have to carry their own DNA-dependent RNA polymerase to make mRNA because they can't use the host RNA pol in the nucleus. That all makes sense. What I don't get is, how do they make new DNA? They don't seem to have a DNA-dependent DNA polymerase. So then is there an RNA-dependent DNA polymerase? I can't figure out how they can do it. Any insight would really be appreciated.

 

[IndyZX]

"Poxviruses, a family of large DNA viruses, are unique among DNA viruses, because they carry out DNA replication in the cytoplasm rather than the nucleus. This process does not occur randomly, but instead, these viruses create cytoplasmic ‘mini-nuclei', distinct sites that are surrounded by membranes derived from the rough endoplasmic reticulum (ER) that support viral replication."
http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/mksg/tra/2005/00000006/00000010/art00001

appears that this is a area of a lot of current research (perhaps re: bioterrorism)


more specifically: "Poxviruses replicate in the cytoplasm. This means that they must provide their own mRNA and DNA synthetic machinery."
http://pathmicro.med.sc.edu/mhunt/dna1.htm

 

[CCLCMer]

Thanks, IndyZX. I guess the answer to my question is just that they don't know the answer? So I won't worry too much about it showing up on my test then.