The gene encoding the penton base of human adenovirus (Ad) type 3 has been sequenced. The resulting amino-acid sequence has an Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) motif located near its middle in a hydrophilic region. The same motif is found in serotypes 2, 5 and 12. This sequence was found [Wickham et al., Cell 73 (1993) 309-319] to be involved in the internalisation of Ad2 through an interaction with some specific integrins.