Sequence of 3,687 nudeotides from the 3′ end of Sendai virus genome RNA and the predicted amino add sequences of viral NP, P and C proteins

Abstract

The sequence of 3,687 nucleotides from the 3' end of the Sendai virus genome (Z strain) was determined by a molecular cloning technique followed by rapid sequence analysis. Two large open reading frames, one consisting of 1,572 nucleotides and the other of 1,704 nucleotides, were observed in the region, that is OP-1 and OP-2 from the 3' end of the genome. The amino acid sequences of the gene products were predicted from the observed sequence. Determination of amino acid compositions of viral proteins, P, HN, Fo, NP and M, led us to conclude that NP and P are the gene products of OP-1 and OP-2, respectively. An additional open reading frame consisting of 612 nucleotides (OP-3) was discovered in the 3' most proximal region of OP-2. The predicted product of OP-3 was considered to be viral non-structural protein C. The leader sequence of 51 nucleotides at the 3' terminal of the genome and consensus sequences at 3' and 5' ends of each gene for proteins NP and P were identified.