Betasatellite

Betasatellite
Virus classification Edit this classification
Informal group: Subviral agents
Informal group: Satellite nucleic acids
Family: Tolecusatellitidae
Genus: Betasatellite
Species

See text

Betasatellite is a genus of satellite nucleic acids in the family Tolecusatellitidae. The genus contains 120 species. They are small, circular, single-stranded DNA molecules that rely on helper viruses like begomoviruses for replication, movement, and encapsidation. These satellites encode a multifunctional protein known as βC1, which is approximately 13.5 kDa in size and plays a crucial role in the suppression of host plant defense responses, contributing to the severity of diseases caused by the associated viruses.


Name

The name Betasatellite is a combination of Beta, because they used to be referred to as DNA-β to distinguish them from DNA-B of begomoviruses, and satellite, the fact that it is a satellite.

Taxonomy

The genus contains the following species:

References

  1. 1 2 "Virus Taxonomy: 2025 Release". International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses. Retrieved 26 March 2026.
  2. ↑ Gnanasekaran et al. (2019). "Multifaceted role of geminivirus associated betasatellite in pathogenesis." Molecular Plant Pathology. https://doi.org/10.1111/mpp.12800
  3. ↑ Mubin et al. (2020). "Journey of begomovirus betasatellite molecules: from satellites to indispensable partners." Journal of General Virology.https://doi.org/10.1007/s11262-019-01716-5
  4. ↑ "Proposal 2016.021a-kP.A.v2.Tolecusatellitidae.pdf PDF" (PDF). International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses. Retrieved 19 August 2023.