Tick-borne encephalitis virus genome. The nucleotide sequence coding for virion structural proteins

Abstract

RNA of a flavivirus, tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV; strain Sofjin), was subjected to reverse transcription and the DNA copy was transformed into double-stranded DNA by the action of E. coli DNA-polymerase I (Klenow fragment). This DNA was annealed with plasmid pBR322. The recombinant plasmids were cloned in E. coli K802. The nucleotide sequence of the inserts of the clones, coding for region structural proteins C, M, E and nonstructural protein NS1, was determined by the Maxam-Gilbert method. The genes of structural proteins form a compact cluster. Homology has been studied of the TBEV sequences found with the structures of proteins and RNAs of other flaviviruses, yellow fever virus and West Nile virus, and a high degree of homology was found.