title: Genomic sequence analysis of granulovirus isolated from the tobacco cutworm, Spodoptera litura.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Spodoptera litura is a noctuid moth that is considered an agricultural pest. The larvae feed on a wide range of plants and have been recorded on plants from 40 plant families (mostly dicotyledons). It is a major pest of many crops. To better understand Spodoptera litura granulovirus (SpliGV), the nucleotide sequence of the SpliGV DNA genome was determined and analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The genome of the SpliGV was completely sequenced. The nucleotide sequence of the SpliGV genome was 124,121 bp long with 61.2% A+T content and contained 133 putative open reading frames (ORFs) of 150 or more nucleotides. The 133 putative ORFs covered 86.3% of the genome. Among these, 31 ORFs were conserved in most completely sequenced baculovirus genomes, 38 were granulovirus (GV)-specific, and 64 were present in some nucleopolyhedroviruses (NPVs) and/or GVs. We proved that 9 of the ORFs were SpliGV specific.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The genome of SpliGV is 124,121 bp in size. One hundred thirty-three ORFs that putatively encode proteins of 50 or more amino acid residues with minimal overlap were determined. No chitinase or cathepsin genes, which are involved in the liquefaction of the infected host, were found in the SpliGV genome, explaining why SpliGV-infected insects do not degrade in a typical manner. The DNA photolyase gene was first found in the genus Granulovirus. When phylogenic relationships were analyzed, the SpliGV was most closely related to Trichoplusia ni granulovirus (TnGV) and Xestia c-nigrum granulovirus (XecnGV), which belong to the Type I-granuloviruses (Type I-GV).
authors: Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Yong
authors: Y
authors: Wang
authors: Jae Young
authors: JY
authors: Choi
authors: Jong Yul
authors: JY
authors: Roh
authors: Qin
authors: Q
authors: Liu
authors: Xue Ying
authors: XY
authors: Tao
authors: Jong Bin
authors: JB
authors: Park
authors: Jae Su
authors: JS
authors: Kim
authors: Yeon Ho
authors: YH
authors: Je
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016367:Baculoviridae / Q000235:genetics; D001483:Base Sequence; D004261:DNA Replication / Q000235:genetics; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; D023061:Gene Order / Q000235:genetics; D005814:Genes, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D016679:Genome, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D025722:Granulovirus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016366:Open Reading Frames; D010802:Phylogeny; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA / Q000379:methods*; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D018411:Spodoptera / Q000821:virology*; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000469:parasitology*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger