DNA-SEQUENCE OF THE NUCLEOSIDE TRIPHOSPHATE PHOSPHOHYDROLASE-I (NPH-I) OF THE CHORISTONEURA-BIENNIS ENTOMOPOXVIRUS

The DNA sequence of an open reading frame (ORF) corresponding to a Choristoneura biennis entomopoxvirus putative late gene was determined. Residing within an 8-kp EcoRI viral genomic fragment, this ORF is 1944 nucleotides long, encoding a basic protein (p/9.83) with a predicted molecular weight of 76,000 Da. Computer analysis indicates a 36.4% homology between this ORF and the vaccinia nucleoside triphosphate phosphohydrolase I (NHP I) gene, subh substantially greater homology (60%) in two domains believed to be involved in ATP binding. The entomopoxvirus ORF contains 78% AT residues; and like other poxvirus late genes, it possesses the conserved TAAAT motif at the 5′ teminus of the gene. © 1991.