Nucleotide sequence and coding strategy of the Uukuniemi virus L RNA segment

Abstract

The complete nucleotide sequence of the L RNA segment of Uukuniemi virus has been determined from cloned cDNA. The L RNA is 6423 nucleotides in length, and is of negative polarity. The viral-complementary RNA contains a single large open reading frame of 2104 codons which corresponds to the L protein (Mr 241039). Comparison with the L protein sequences of other members of the Bunyaviridae showed homology with the Rift Valley fever phlebovirus L protein (38% amino acid identity), but no detectable similarity with bunyavirus, hantavirus or tospovirus L proteins. These data lend further support for the recent reclassification of uukuviruses and phleboviruses into the same genus, Phlebovirus, in the family Bunyaviridae. The L RNA sequence completes the determination of the Uukuniemi virus genome: since the M RNA segment is 3229 and the S RNA segment 1720 nucleotides, the whole genome comprises 11 372 nucleotides.

Rift valley fever virus L segment: correction of the sequence and possible functional role of newly identified regions conserved in RNA-dependent polymerases

“…The comparisons reveal a strong similarity over most of the length of the L proteins of RVFV and UukV (38% and 58% of strictly and conservatively maintained residues, respectively), confirming the results reported by Elliott et al (1992).…”

Characterization of the Candiru Antigenic Complex (Bunyaviridae: Phlebovirus), a Highly Diverse and Reassorting Group of Viruses Affecting Humans in Tropical America

“…Nonetheless, the extent of reassortment in the Candiru complex (5 of 13 named viruses) is unprecedented. Given that phylogenetic analyses of other members of the genus are based on only single genomic segments (18,21,35,63), it is possible that as additional full genomic sequences are reported, we will learn that this feature is not unique to the Candiru complex.…”

Mutational Analysis of the Uukuniemi Virus ( Bunyaviridae Family) Promoter Reveals Two Elements of Functional Importance

“…This "cap snatching" occurs in the cytoplasm (36), and the endonucleolytic cleavage of the host mRNA some 10 to 20 bases downstream of the 5Ј cap structure is probably carried out by the L protein, as described for other bunyaviruses (1,16,19,20,22,45). As revealed by electron microscopy, the viral RNAs (18) and RNPs (35) are circular due to base pairing between complementary sequences at the 5Ј and 3Ј ends of each segment (6). These terminal sequences are conserved between each RNA segment and also between members within the same genus (5,6).…”

“…As revealed by electron microscopy, the viral RNAs (18) and RNPs (35) are circular due to base pairing between complementary sequences at the 5Ј and 3Ј ends of each segment (6). These terminal sequences are conserved between each RNA segment and also between members within the same genus (5,6). Thus, it is thought that this panhandle structure harbors the promoter elements necessary for initiation of both transcription and replication as well as genome packaging signals.…”