Completion of the Lassa fever virus sequence and identification of a RING finger open reading frame at the L RNA 5' End

Virology. 1997 Sep 1;235(2):414-8. doi: 10.1006/viro.1997.8722.

Abstract

Lassa (LAS) fever virus is a highly pathogenic arenavirus with large (L) and small (S) RNA genomic segments. The 5' end of the LAS L segment is described here, thereby completing the sequence of the most virulent arenavirus analyzed to date. In keeping with the ambisense gene structure of the arenaviruses, the LAS L RNA encodes a 250-kDa protein and an 11-kDa protein in opposite senses with respect to each other. The 11-kDa protein, defined previously in arenaviruses lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCM), Tacaribe (TAC), and Pichinde (PIC), contains a RING type of zinc-binding structure. Expression of the 11-kDa protein in LAS virus-infected cells has been confirmed by binding to peptide-specific antibody.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics*
  • Lassa virus / genetics*
  • Lassa virus / metabolism
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Open Reading Frames
  • RNA, Viral / genetics*
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Vero Cells
  • Zinc Fingers / genetics*

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • RNA, Viral

Associated data

  • GENBANK/U73034