The sequence and genomic organization of a GB virus A variant isolated from captive tamarins

J Gen Virol. 1997 Sep:78 ( Pt 9):2307-13. doi: 10.1099/0022-1317-78-9-2307.

Abstract

Recently, gene fragments of several novel variants of GB virus A were isolated from the serum of distinct monkey species that had not been experimentally inoculated with an infectious agent. These variants appeared to be species-specific in that sequences isolated within a species were virtually identical, though sequences were strikingly different when compared between each species. In the present study, the nucleotide sequence of one of these variants, GBV-Alab, was extended to near-genome length. Similar to the other GB viruses, GBV-Alab appears to encode a single large polyprotein of 2967 amino acids that is post-translationally cleaved by cellular and viral proteases into the individual viral proteins. The structural proteins are found at the N-terminal end of the polyprotein, while the nonstructural proteins are found at the C teminus. Amino acid sequence comparisons of the large polyprotein demonstrate that GBV-Alab is 74% identical to GBV-A and 48% identical to GBV-C, sharing only marginal identity with GBV-B and HCV-1 at 27%. Examination of the GBV-Alab polyprotein reveals that structural motifs are conserved for a protease, a helicase and a replicase. Phylogenetic analysis of the polyprotein confirms previous results that GBV-Alab is a member of the Flaviviridae, distinct from GBV-B and HCV, though more closely related to GBV-A and GBV-C.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Flaviviridae / genetics*
  • Genome, Viral*
  • Glycosylation
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Open Reading Frames / genetics
  • Phylogeny
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational
  • RNA, Viral / blood
  • RNA, Viral / genetics
  • Saguinus / virology*
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Species Specificity
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins / genetics
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins / metabolism
  • Viral Structural Proteins / genetics
  • Viral Structural Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • RNA, Viral
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins
  • Viral Structural Proteins

Associated data

  • GENBANK/AF023424
  • GENBANK/AF023425
  • GENBANK/U94421