Gram Staining of Streptococcus sanguinis at a Magnification of x 4000.
Obelisks have been found in human stool samples, and inside specimens of Streptococcus sanguinis, a species of bacteria, taken from human mouths. Some human subjects harboured obelisks for more than 300 days. The initial study showed the presence of obelisks in about 7 percent of the stool samples, and about 50 percent of saliva samples, from individuals living on all continents.[1]
The effect of obelisks on human health, if any, is yet to be determined,[2] as are issues such as their life cycles, and what factors their replication depend on.[1]
Genetics and biochemistryedit
Features of obelisks include circular RNA genome assemblies with around 1000 base pairs, and rod-like secondary structures that encompass the entire genome. In contrast to viroids, their RNA is translated into proteins, tentatively called "oblins" in the preprint. The two proteins listed there have been named Oblin-1 and Oblin-2.[1]
First structural predictions say that Oblin-1 can bind metal ions and thus could be involved in cellular signalling. Oblin-2 features a binding site which is typical of protein complexes, and might therefore bind to enzymes of its host cell.[2]
Nameedit
The preprint says: "Owing to a strong predicted rod-like secondary structure, we term this group of RNAs Obelisk-alpha."... "At 1164 nt in length, the rod-like secondary structure was striking..."[1] (Secondary with respect to the circular assembly structure.)
Referencesedit
^ abcdefIvan N. Zheludev; Robert C. Edgar; Maria Jose Lopez-Galiano; Marcos de la Peña; Artem Babaian; Ami S. Bhatt; Andrew Z. Fire (21 January 2024). "Viroid-like colonists of human microbiomes". bioRxiv. doi:10.1101/2024.01.20.576352. PMC10827157. PMID 38293115. Wikidata Q124389714.
^ abcSidik, Saima (29 January 2024). "'Wildly weird' RNA bits discovered infesting the microbes in our guts". Nature. doi:10.1038/d41586-024-00266-7. PMID 38291328. S2CID 267332809. from the original on 30 January 2024. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
^Pennisi, Elizabeth (26 January 2024). "'It's insane': New viruslike entities found in human gut microbes". Science. doi:10.1126/science.znxt3dk. from the original on 30 January 2024. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
April 12, 2024
obelisk, biology, obelisk, viroid, like, element, type, first, described, january, 2024, preprint, whose, authors, that, obelisks, form, their, distinct, phylogenetic, group, their, sequences, discovered, computer, aided, metatranscriptomics, homologous, with,. An obelisk is a viroid like element of a type first described in a January 2024 preprint whose authors say that Obelisks form their own distinct phylogenetic group 1 2 3 as their RNA sequences discovered by computer aided metatranscriptomics are not homologous with the genetic code of any other life form 1 With their relationship to other organisms being unknown they are an example of the incertae sedis or enigmatic taxa Contents 1 Distribution and pathology 2 Genetics and biochemistry 3 Name 4 ReferencesDistribution and pathology edit nbsp Gram Staining of Streptococcus sanguinis at a Magnification of x 4000 Obelisks have been found in human stool samples and inside specimens of Streptococcus sanguinis a species of bacteria taken from human mouths Some human subjects harboured obelisks for more than 300 days The initial study showed the presence of obelisks in about 7 percent of the stool samples and about 50 percent of saliva samples from individuals living on all continents 1 The effect of obelisks on human health if any is yet to be determined 2 as are issues such as their life cycles and what factors their replication depend on 1 Genetics and biochemistry editFeatures of obelisks include circular RNA genome assemblies with around 1000 base pairs and rod like secondary structures that encompass the entire genome In contrast to viroids their RNA is translated into proteins tentatively called oblins in the preprint The two proteins listed there have been named Oblin 1 and Oblin 2 1 First structural predictions say that Oblin 1 can bind metal ions and thus could be involved in cellular signalling Oblin 2 features a binding site which is typical of protein complexes and might therefore bind to enzymes of its host cell 2 Name editThe preprint says Owing to a strong predicted rod like secondary structure we term this group of RNAs Obelisk alpha At 1164 nt in length the rod like secondary structure was striking 1 Secondary with respect to the circular assembly structure References edit a b c d e f Ivan N Zheludev Robert C Edgar Maria Jose Lopez Galiano Marcos de la Pena Artem Babaian Ami S Bhatt Andrew Z Fire 21 January 2024 Viroid like colonists of human microbiomes bioRxiv doi 10 1101 2024 01 20 576352 PMC 10827157 PMID 38293115 Wikidata Q124389714 a b c Sidik Saima 29 January 2024 Wildly weird RNA bits discovered infesting the microbes in our guts Nature doi 10 1038 d41586 024 00266 7 PMID 38291328 S2CID 267332809 Archived from the original on 30 January 2024 Retrieved 31 January 2024 Pennisi Elizabeth 26 January 2024 It s insane New viruslike entities found in human gut microbes Science doi 10 1126 science znxt3dk Archived from the original on 30 January 2024 Retrieved 31 January 2024 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Obelisk biology amp oldid 1217355337, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
