Codon Usage Bias in the Photolyase Gene of Amsacta moorei Entomopoxvirus

Amsacta moorei entomopoxvirus (AMEV) is a poxvirus exclusively infecting insects and has been considered as a potential biological control agent. AMEV includes a CPD photolyase (AMV025, AMEV photolyase gene) responsible for converting cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs) back into monomers. The codon usage patterns and their influence on the evolution of the AMEV photolyase gene are still widely uninvestigated. Here, we conducted a thorough examination of the codon usage bias (CUB) within the photolyase gene of AMEV and contrasted it with that of the photolyase genes found in five other entomopoxvirus species. Both nucleotide content and relative synonymous codon usage (RSCU) analysis indicated a higher frequency of AT-ending codons in the photolyase gene of AMEV. The effective number of codons (ENC) analysis revealed a high CUB in AMEV photolyase gene. The ENC-GC3s plot, neutrality plot, parity rule 2, correspondence analysis, and correlation analysis collectively indicated that both natural selection and mutation pressure impact the codon usage patterns of the AMEV photolyase gene, with natural selection emerging as the dominant factor shaping these patterns. Our research represents the inaugural effort to assess the codon usage pattern of the photolyase gene in AMEV, aiming to enhance our comprehension of the evolutionary dynamics within an entomopoxvirus.