title: HTLV-1 p12I protein sequences from South America: truncated proteins and common genetic signatures.
abstract: p12 pX ORF-I (p12I) of simian T cell lymphotropic virus 1 from Central and West Africa is a 91-amino acid (aa) protein, contrasting with the known p12 sequences from human T cell lymphotropic virus type 1, which are 99 aa in length. An in silico sequence analysis shows a premature termination codon in HTLV-1 p12I sequences from South American and Japanese strains. A translation analysis indicated the presence of 86-aa and 81-aa p12I proteins, shorter than the 99-aa protein found in the majority of HTLV-1 strains around the world. This report shows one more common feature between these two viruses. Additionally, the HTLV-1 p12 signature reported as a genetic marker of Brazilian sequences (p12I P63 and P91) is also highly prevalent in p12 Argentinean sequences. Because p12I may confer a proliferative advantage on HTLV-1-infected cells the existence of naturally truncated proteins might supply insights into its pathogenic mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Genética, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Maguinhos Rio de Janeiro 21045-900, Brazil. alena@ioc.fiocruz.br
authors.forename: Alena M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Iñiguez
authors.forename: René
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gastaldello
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gallego
authors.forename: Koko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Otsuki
authors.forename: Ana Carolina P
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Vicente
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D018388:Codon, Terminator; D003198:Computer Simulation; D005819:Genetic Markers; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009856:Oncogene Proteins, Viral / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013020:South America
chemical_list: D018388:Codon, Terminator; D005819:Genetic Markers; D009856:Oncogene Proteins, Viral