Amino acid and codon use: in two influenza viruses and three hosts

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the use of amino acids and codons in influenza viruses A and B and in their common hosts, to highlight any relevant difference.

Methods: The frequency of the 20 amino acids and of the 61 codons was studied in influenza viruses A, B, and in man, pig, and chicken. The correlation in amino acid and codon use among these hosts was calculated.

Results: The correlation between the frequency of the 20 amino acids and the molecular weight was also calculated and it was very similar in all studied hosts, ranging from 0.506 to 0.595. The correlation of codon frequency among these organisms was highest between man and chicken (r=0.974), and lowest between pig and virus B (r=0.147).

Conclusions: The important correlation in codon use among the three hosts and the two viruses suggests there was a remote lateral gene transfer among the three hosts and the two viruses. The higher use of alanine, leucine, and proline in man versus virus A is significant.