Abstract
We recently determined that respiratory syncytial virus (strain A2) encodes a fourth unique envelope-associated virion protein that has molecular weight of approximately 24,000, as estimated by gel electrophoresis. The nucleotide sequence of the mRNA encoding this novel protein has now been determined from five cDNA clones, including three that contain the complete mRNA sequence. The complete mRNA sequence is 957 nucleotides, exclusive of polyadenylate, and contains two partially overlapping open reading frames. The 5'-proximal open reading frame is favored for utilization by the criteria of the location and sequence of its translational start site. Furthermore, the calculated molecular weight of the encoded protein, 22,153, is in agreement with the previous estimate of 24,000 for the authentic protein identified by hybrid selection and in vitro translation. The sequence of the predicted protein, now designated the 22K protein, contains 194 amino acids, is relatively hydrophilic, and appears to be the most basic of the respiratory syncytial virus proteins. The mRNA also contains a second, internal open reading frame which would encode a protein of 90 amino acids. However, no evidence for this translation product is known. The first nine nucleotides in the mRNA sequence, 5'-GGGGCAAAU, are identical to the conserved sequence identified previously at the 5' termini of seven other respiratory syncytial viral mRNAs; the sequence at the 3' end of the 22K mRNA, 5'. . . AGUUAUUU-polyadenylate, contains the elements of the previously identified 3'-terminal consensus sequence for respiratory syncytial virus mRNAs, AGUUAA(N)1-4-polyadenylate (P. L. Collins, Y. T. Huang, and G. W. Wertz, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 81:7683-7687). In addition, we present and describe the intergenic sequence of a dicistronic RNA derived from readthrough of the F and 22K protein genes.