Exploring Mobility: Phylogenetic and Structural Analysis of the Intein in the Helicase of Mycobacteriophage Alice

This paper investigates the intein insertion in the DNA helicase gene Alice_175 of the Mycobacterium phage Alice, exploring its evolutionary significance and potential propagation mechanisms. Using phylogenetic analysis, there is evidence for gene transfer as a driving force in intein dissemination in phage and bacterial genomes. Structural predictions of the Alice_175 intein that were generated through AlphaFold2 as well as a phylogeny generated using SeaView infer a timeline of the intein's invasion and reveal key features that may influence protein functionality and host adaptation. Additionally, protein database searches suggest that intein mobility in this gene may not rely on prophages, raising questions about alternative transfer mechanisms. These findings contribute to understanding intein evolution, their role in conserved enzymes like helicases, and their potential applications in biotechnology and molecular biology.