title: Complete genome sequence of Fer-de-Lance virus reveals a novel gene in reptilian paramyxoviruses.
abstract: The complete RNA genome sequence of the archetype reptilian paramyxovirus, Fer-de-Lance virus (FDLV), has been determined. The genome is 15,378 nucleotides in length and consists of seven nonoverlapping genes in the order 3' N-U-P-M-F-HN-L 5', coding for the nucleocapsid, unknown, phospho-, matrix, fusion, hemagglutinin-neuraminidase, and large polymerase proteins, respectively. The gene junctions contain highly conserved transcription start and stop signal sequences and tri-nucleotide intergenic regions similar to those of other Paramyxoviridae. The FDLV P gene expression strategy is like that of rubulaviruses, which express the accessory V protein from the primary transcript and edit a portion of the mRNA to encode P and I proteins. There is also an overlapping open reading frame potentially encoding a small basic protein in the P gene. The gene designated U (unknown), encodes a deduced protein of 19.4 kDa that has no counterpart in other paramyxoviruses and has no similarity with sequences in the National Center for Biotechnology Information database. Active transcription of the U gene in infected cells was demonstrated by Northern blot analysis, and bicistronic N-U mRNA was also evident. The genomes of two other snake paramyxovirus genotypes were also found to have U genes, with 11 to 16% nucleotide divergence from the FDLV U gene. Pairwise comparisons of amino acid identities and phylogenetic analyses of all deduced FDLV protein sequences with homologous sequences from other Paramyxoviridae indicate that FDLV represents a new genus within the subfamily Paramyxoviridae. We suggest the name Ferlavirus for the new genus, with FDLV as the type species.
authors.affiliation: U.S. Geological Survey, Western Fisheries Research Center, Seattle, Washington 98115, USA. gael_kurath@usgs.gov
authors.forename: Gael
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kurath
authors.forename: William N
authors.initials: WN
authors.lastname: Batts
authors.forename: Winfried
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ahne
authors.forename: James R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Winton
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D017837:Bothrops / Q000821:virology*; D016679:Genome, Viral; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010252:Paramyxoviridae / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D018184:Paramyxoviridae Infections / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D010802:Phylogeny; D017393:RNA Editing; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D014764:Viral Proteins