The complete sequence and coding content of snowshoe hare bunyavirus small (S) viral RNA species

Abstract

The complete sequence of the small (S) viral RNA species of snowshoe hare (SSH) bunyavirus has been determined, principally from a DNA copy of the RNA cloned in the E.coli plasmid pBr322. The viral S RNA (negative sense strand) is 982 nucleotides long (3.3 x 10(5) daltons) with complementary 5' and 3' end sequences. It has a base composition of 30.5%U, 25.8%A, 24.9%C and 18.7%G. In the viral complementary (plus sense) strand there are two overlapping open reading frames initiated by methionine codons. One reading frame codes for a 26.8 x 10(3) dalton protein, the other for a 10.5 x 10(3) dalton protein. The larger gene product is presumably related to the viral nucleoprotein (N) that is coded by the S RNA (Gentsch and Bishop (1978) J. Virol. 28, 417-419). The smaller gene product is probably related to the recently identified S RNA coded nonstructural protein (NSS) induced in virus infected cells (Fuller and Bishop (1982) J. Virol. 41, 643-648).

Complementarity Between the 5'- and 3'-terminal Sequences of Rice Stripe Virus RNAs

“…Terminal complementary sequences are present in negative-strand viruses such as influenza virus, vesicular stomatitis virus and snowshoe hare virus (Skehel & Hay, 1978;Keene et al, 1979;Bishop et al, 1982). The terminal sequences of influenza virus RNAs have been shown recently to form panhandle structures (Honda et al, 1987;Hsu et al, 1987).…”

Bunyavirus Nucleoprotein, N, and a Non-structural Protein, NSS, Are Coded by Overlapping Reading Frames in the S RNA

“…The compositions of the individual tryptic peptides were obtained by computing the molar ratios of the individual amino acids that were identified [using the arginine (R) and lysine (K) values as a basis]. The results were correlated to the predicted sequences (Bishop et al, 1982). Since aspartic (D) and asparagine (N), or glutamic (E) and glutamine (Q) residues could not be distinguished by the compositional analyses, their identities were assumed from the total molar recoveries of D, or E, and the predicted sequences (Bishop et al, 1982).…”

“…The results were correlated to the predicted sequences (Bishop et al, 1982). Since aspartic (D) and asparagine (N), or glutamic (E) and glutamine (Q) residues could not be distinguished by the compositional analyses, their identities were assumed from the total molar recoveries of D, or E, and the predicted sequences (Bishop et al, 1982). Neither methionine (M), nor tryptophan (W), residues were detected in the hydrolysates, presumably due to losses incurred during the acid treatment.…”

“…Analyses of a cloned D N A copy of SSH S R N A (Bishop et al, 1982) have shown that one open reading frame in the viral complementary (plus sense) sequence predicts a 26-8 x 103 mol. wt.…”

“…Alternatively the two proteins may be translated from common, or homologous, mRNA species, that are read in different frames. Sequence studies of the three viral RNA species of snowshoe hare (SSH) and La Crosse (LAC) bunyaviruses have identified two open, overlapping, reading frames in the S RNA (Akashi & Bishop, 1983;Bishop et al, 1982). The studies reported here were undertaken in order to determine whether the two S RNA gene products (N and NSs) represent the translation products of these two open reading frames.…”