Sequence of mouse hepatitis virus A59 mRNA 2: indications for RNA recombination between coronaviruses and influenza C virus.
The nucleotide sequence of the unique region of coronavirus MHV-A59 mRNA 2 has been determined. Two open reading frames (ORF) are predicted: ORF1 potentially encodes a protein of 261 amino acids; its amino acid sequence contains elements which indicate nucleotide binding properties. ORF2 predicts a 413 amino acids protein; it lacks a translation initiation codon and is therefore probably a pseudogene. The amino acid sequence of ORF2 shares 30% homology with the HA1 hemagglutinin sequence of influenza C virus. A short stretch of nucleotides immediately upstream of ORF2 shares 83% homology with the MHC class I nucleotide sequences. We discuss the possibility that both similarities are the result of recombinations and present a model for the acquisition and the subsequent inactivation of ORF2; the model applies also to MHV-A59-related coronaviruses in which we expect ORF2 to be still functional.
Luytjes
W
W
Institute of Virology, Veterinary Faculty, State University of Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Bredenbeek
P J
PJ
Noten
A F
AF
Horzinek
M C
MC
Spaan
W J
WJ
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D005814:Genes, Viral; D006389:Hemagglutinins, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D009982:Gammainfluenzavirus / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D006517:Murine hepatitis virus / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D011995:Recombination, Genetic
D006389:Hemagglutinins, Viral; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012367:RNA, Viral