title: DNA sequence of a simian varicella virus gene that encodes a homologue of varicella zoster virus IE62 and herpes simplex virus ICP4.
abstract: Clinical and biological studies indicate that simian varicella virus (SVV) infection of primates is the counterpart of human varicella zoster virus (VZV) infection. We have identified an SVV open reading frame (ORF) that is homologous to the VZV protein IE62 and herpes simplex virus (HSV) ICP4. Like the genes encoding the VZV and HSV proteins, the SVV gene is located in the repeat region of the virus genome. Its expression in SVV-infected cells yields a 4.2-kb transcript. DNA sequencing of the SVV gene reveals a coding region 3834 nucleotides in length and a G+C content of 60.3%. Like ICP4 homologues in other herpesviruses, the SVV protein has five regions, two of which (regions 2 and 4) are highly conserved. The SVV protein also contains a run of serine residues in its amino terminus that is characteristic of herpesvirus ICP4 homologues. The SVV protein shows an overall homology of 24% to HSV ICP4 and 53% to VZV IE62.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver 80262.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Clarke
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brunschwig
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Gilden
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D002460:Cell Line; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D005814:Genes, Viral; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D007668:Kidney; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016366:Open Reading Frames; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000235:genetics*; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; C074221:IE62 protein, Human herpesvirus 3; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins; C048925:herpes simplex virus, type 1 protein ICP4