SEQUENCE DETERMINATION OF THE HEMAGGLUTININ NEURAMINIDASE (HN) GENE OF HUMAN PARA-INFLUENZA TYPE-2 VIRUS AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF A PHYLOGENETIC TREE FOR HN PROTEINS OF ALL THE PARAMYXOVIRUSES THAT ARE INFECTIOUS TO HUMANS

The nucleotide sequence of the hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) gene of human parainfluenza type 2 virus (PIV2) was determined. The PIV-2 HN gene was 2112 nucleotides excluding poly(A) tail. There was a single large open reading frame in the mRNA which encoded a protein of 571 amino acids with a calculated molecular weight of 63,262. Analysis of the deduced amino acid sequence revealed that there were fourteen potential glycosylation sites and a major hydrophobic region near the N-terminus, which would anchor the protein in the viral membrane. Comparisons of the HN protein sequences of PIV-2 with those of Simian virus 5 (SV5), Sendai virus (SV, parainfluenza virus type 1), human parainfluenza virus type 3 (PIV-3), type 4 (PIV-4), bovine parainfluenza virus type 3 (BPIV-3), mumps virus (MuV), and Newcastle disease virus (NDV) showed definite amino acid sequence relatedness, indicating a common ancestor for these viruses. Furthermore, statistical analysis of the protein sequences suggested a possible evolutionary relatedness among the paramyxoviruses. This is the first time that a phylogenetic tree has been constructed for all the parainfluenza viruses and mumps virus which are infectious to humans. In addition, amino acid sequences involved in hemag-glutinating and neuraminidase activities of paramyxovirus were discussed. © 1990.