Picornaviral proteinases are responsible for maturation cleavages of the viral polyprotein, but also catalyze the degradation of cellular targets. Using graphical visualization techniques and neural network algorithms, we have investigated the sequence specificity of the two proteinases 2AP" and 3CPm. The cleavage of VPO (giving rise to VP2 and VP4). which is carried out by a so-far unknown proteinase, was also examined. In combination with a novel surface exposure prediction algorithm, our neural network approach successfully distinguishes known cleavage sites from noncleavage sites and yields a more consistent definition of features common to these sites. The method is able to predict experimentally determined cleavage sites in cellular proteins. We present a list of mammalian and other proteins that are predicted to be possible targets for the viral proteinases. Whether these proteins are indeed cleaved awaits experimental verification. Additionally, we report several errors detected in the protein databases.A computer server for prediction of cleavage sites by picornaviral proteinases is publicly available at the e-mail address NetPicoRNA@cbs.dtu.dk or via WWW at http://www.cbs.dtu.dkfservices/NetPicoRNA.Keywords: cleavage site prediction; neural networks; picornavirus; proteinase; surface exposureMembers of the picornavirus family express their genomic RNA as a single polyprotein that is proteolytically processed to the mature polypeptides. At least three proteinases are required for the individual protein components to be released (reviewed in Krausslich Hellen et al., 1989;Lawson & Semler, 1990). The primary cleavage, which severs the capsid precursor PI from the nonstructural region P2-P3, is performed cotranslationally by the viral proteinase 2APm in enteroviruses and human rhinoviruses (HRVs; see Fig. I). Most of the remaining cleavages are catalyzed by the viral proteinase, 3CP". In cardio-, hepato-, and aphthoviruses, which also belong to the picornavirus family, the L-proteinase performs functions similar to those of 2APm, resulting in a somewhat different cleavage scheme (see Fig. I). Concomitantly with RNA encapsidation, VPO is cleaved to VP4 and VP2; it is believed that the RNA itself exerts a catalytic function in this event (Arnold et a!., 1987;Harber et al., 1991;Bishop &Anderson, 1993;Basavappa et al., 1994).In addition to processing of the viral polyprotein, the proteinases also cleave cellular targets. When infected with poliovirus, at least nine acidic and five basic cellular proteins were shown to be degraded in two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (Urzanqui & Carrasco, 1989). The degradation of cellular proteins seems to be part of the viral attack mechanism, leading to host cell shur-ofJ-a decrease in cellular transcription and translation that has no influence on viral replication. The best-studied event is the cleavage of the eukaryotic initiation factor 4G (eIF-4G). which is required for cap-dependent translation of cellular mRNA. This protein is degraded by 2APm in entero-and...