Elsevier

Virology

Volume 187, Issue 2, April 1992, Pages 534-547
Virology

The nucleotide sequence of the L gene of marburg virus, a filovirus: Homologies with paramyxoviruses and rhabdoviruses

Dedicated to Prof. Dr. G. A. Martini on the occasion of his 75th birthday
https://doi.org/10.1016/0042-6822(92)90456-YGet rights and content

Abstract

The nucleotide sequence of the L gene of Marburg virus, strain Musoke, has been determined. The L gene has a single long open reading frame encoding a polypeptide of 2330 amino acids (MW 267,175) that represents the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. The putative transcription start signal (3′ CUACCUAUAAUU 5′) and the termination signal (3′ UAAUUCUUUUU 5′) of the gene could be identified. Computer-assisted comparison of the L protein with L proteins of other nonsegmented negative-stranded RNA viruses (Paramyxoviridae: Sendai virus, Newcastle disease virus, human parainfluenza 3 virus, measles virus, human respiratory syncytial virus; Rhabdoviridae: vesicular stomatitis virus, rabies virus) revealed significant homologies primarily in the N-terminal half of the proteins. We have identified three common conserved boxes (A, B, and C) among filo-, paramyxo-, and rhabdovirus L proteins, which are probably involved in the polymerase function. The L proteins can be divided into an N-terminal half, which seems to accomodate the common enzymatic sites, and a C-terminal half carrying virus specific peculiarities. The data presented here suggest a common evolutionary history for all nonsegmented negative-stranded RNA viruses and show that filoviruses are more closely related to paramyxo- than to rhabdoviruses.

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    Present address: Research and Development Program, Government Services Division, Salk Institute, Swiftwater, PA 18370.

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