title: The complete nucleotide sequence of coxsackievirus A21.
abstract: We have determined the complete nucleotide sequence of coxsackievirus A21 (CAV-21), the first member of this enterovirus subgroup to be analysed in molecular detail. The sequence, which is 7401 nucleotides long, encodes an open reading frame of 2206 codons, preceded by a 5' non-coding region of 711 nucleotides and followed by a 3' non-coding region of 72 nucleotides plus a poly(A) tract. The most striking feature is the remarkable homology to the poliovirus (greater than 90% at the amino acid level) in the 3' part of the genome. The rest of the genome is much less homologous, suggesting that CAV-21 is a recombinant virus. Rhinovirus-like characteristics, including the length of the 5' non-coding region and a slight --U/--A imbalance in codon usage, may be related to the fact that CAV-21, like rhinoviruses, infects the upper respiratory tract. However, the sequence sheds little light on the molecular basis of the shared receptor specificity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, U.K.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: North
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Minor
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stanway
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001482:Base Composition; D001483:Base Sequence; D003062:Codon; D004770:Enterovirus / Q000235:genetics*; D005814:Genes, Viral; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D015678:Viral Structural Proteins / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D003062:Codon; D011506:Proteins; D012367:RNA, Viral; D015678:Viral Structural Proteins