Identification and comparative sequence analysis of a gene in equine herpesvirus 1 with homology to the herpes simplex virus glycoprotein D gene.
A homologue of the herpes simplex virus (HSV) glycoprotein D gene has been identified in the genome of equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1, equine abortion virus). An open reading frame in the middle of the short unique (US) region is capable of encoding a polypeptide of 402 amino acids that has 26% and 20% of its residues matching pseudorabies virus (PRV) gp50 and HSV-1 gD, respectively. Despite this low level of similarity, the positional identity of six cysteine residues and certain motifs, and the location of the EHV-1 gene, clearly define the EHV-1 polypeptide as one of a family of "gD-like" proteins. Two transcripts of 3.3-3.6 kb and 5.4-5.9 kb were identified, consistent with coterminal mRNAs for the EHV-1 gD gene and the adjacent upstream gene, respectively. Partial sequencing of other regions in US also revealed EHV-1 homologues of HSV-1 gE and gI genes, and a possible equivalent gene to PRV gX. By analogy with the ability of HSV-1 gD and PRV gp50 to induce strong anti-viral immune responses, the EHV-1 gD gene product is expected to be an excellent candidate for development as a vaccine antigen.
Whalley
M
M
School of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.
Robertson
G
G
Bell
C
C
Love
D
D
Elphinstone
M
M
Wiley
L
L
Craven
D
D
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D003545:Cysteine / Q000235:genetics; D005814:Genes, Viral; D004861:Herpesvirus 1, Equid / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016366:Open Reading Frames / Q000235:genetics; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000235:genetics*; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*
D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; C488988:glycoprotein D, Equid herpesvirus 1; C042966:pseudorabies virus glycoproteins; D003545:Cysteine