TO COMPARE AND CONTRAST EllF4E FOUND IN NUCLEOCYTOPLASMIC LARGE DNA VIRUSES SUCH AS THE MIIMIVIRUS AND THE PANDORAVIRUS WITH MAMMALIAN EN4E-1, EIIF4E-2 AND EllF4E-3 IN ORDER TO DISCOVER THE PURPOSE AND FUNCTION OF EIF4E IN THESE LARGE VIRUSES

Abstract

The aim is to discover the purpose and function of eIF4E found in nucleocytoplasmic large DNA viruses, but more specifically in the Mimivirus and the Pandoravirus. Initially, phylogenetic analysis will be used to compare and contrast the eIF4E sequences discovered in the viruses to the sequences of the mammalian eIF4E family members (eIF4E-1, eIF4E-2 & eIF4E-3). I will look for key sites, similarities and differences in the sequences of the viral eIF4Es. This analysis will provide some insight to the possible outcomes of the following laboratory eIF4E experiments.