title: Human group C rotavirus: completion of the genome sequence and gene coding assignments of a non-cultivatable rotavirus.
abstract: Genome segments 1 and 2 of human group C rotavirus 'Bristol' strain were sequenced and their gene-protein coding properties assigned. This work completed the genome sequence of a human group C rotavirus (17,910 bp) and allowed the full gene-protein coding assignment of the 11 segments of dsRNA. Gene 1 is 3309 bp in size and contains a single ORF of 3272 nucleotides, encoding a protein of 1090 amino acids in length with a predicted molecular mass of 125 kDa. Comparison of the translated sequence with cognate published mammalian group A, B and C rotavirus sequences showed 45.2, 26.4 and 92.6% identity, respectively. The sequence contains conserved amino acid motifs including the classic RNA-dependent RNA polymerase motif GDD, indicating that segment 1 encodes the group C rotavirus polymerase protein. Gene 2 is 2736 bp in size and contains a single ORF of 2655 nucleotides encoding a protein of 884 amino acids in length with a calculated molecular mass of 102 kDa. Database searches showed highest homology with VP2, the main structural component of the 'core' from group A rotaviruses (46% identity). Alignment of the human group C and A rotavirus VP2 proteins revealed several characteristics common to nucleic acid binding proteins. However, these features were not shared with group B rotavirus VP2.
authors.affiliation: Virus Group, Molecular Microbiology, University Medical School, Southampton General Hospital, Tremona Road, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK.
authors.forename: Zhilin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Paul R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Lambden
authors.forename: Jeshen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: E Owen
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Caul
authors.forename: Ian N
authors.initials: IN
authors.lastname: Clarke
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D002213:Capsid / Q000235:genetics; D036022:Capsid Proteins; D005814:Genes, Viral; D016679:Genome, Viral; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000235:genetics*; D017423:Sequence Analysis, RNA
chemical_list: D036022:Capsid Proteins; C442545:VP2 protein, Rotavirus