title: A novel herpes simplex virus gene (UL49A) encodes a putative membrane protein with counterparts in other herpesviruses.
abstract: Comparative analysis of DNA sequences located between the coding regions of genes UL49 and UL50 of herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and -2) has revealed a small open reading frame (ORF) of 91 and 87 codons respectively with the characteristics of a genuine protein-coding region. The predicted protein products are clearly related and exhibit features of membrane-inserted proteins, with potential N-proximal signal peptides and C-proximal membrane anchor regions. Counterparts are present in the other sequenced alphaherpesviruses, namely varicella-zoster virus (a previously undescribed gene, 9A) and equine herpesvirus type 1 (gene 10), in the betaherpesvirus human cytomegalovirus (gene UL73) and in the gammaherpesvirus Epstein-Barr virus (gene BLRF1). Therefore, we consider that this ORF represents an additional HSV gene (UL49A) with counterparts in all sequenced alpha-, beta- and gammaherpesviruses.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Virology, University of Glasgow, U.K.
authors.forename: B C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Barnett
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dolan
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Telford
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Davison
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: McGeoch
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D005814:Genes, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D006564:Herpesviridae / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016366:Open Reading Frames / Q000235:genetics; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000235:genetics*; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins; C076024:UL49A protein, Human herpesvirus 2