Molecular structure of Tacaribe virus LRNA

IAPALUCCI S; LOPEZ R; REY O; LOPEZ N; FRANCE-FERNANDEZ MT; LUCERO MA; OCHOA A; COHEN GN; ZAKIN MM

VIRUS RESEARCH

ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 1988

0168-1702

The nucleotide sequence of Tacaribe virus (TV) L gene was obtained from two sets of overlapping cDNA clones constructed by walking along the virus L RNA using two successive synthetic DNA primers. Analysis of the sequence indicated the existence of a unique long open reading frame in the viral complementary strand. The first in-phase AUG codon is in positions 31-33 from the 5´ end of the viral complementary L RNA surrounded by a sequence favorable for initiation of protein synthesis. The open reading frame ends at positions 6661-6663. The predicted TV L protein is a 2210 amino acid long polypeptide with an estimated molecular weight of 251,942. Comparison of the amino acid sequence of TV L protein with peptide sequences predicted from L-derived cDNA clones of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus shows an overall 42% of homology.