Nucleotide sequence of adenovirus 2 DNA fragment encoding for the carboxylic region of the fiber protein and the entire E4 region

Abstract

The entire nucleotide sequence between coordinates 89.5 and 100% of the Ad 2 DNA genome has been determined using the Maxam and Gilbert method. This sequence of 3766 bp contains information relative to the carboxylic end of the fiber protein and to the entire E4 region. The position within the nucleotide sequence of various open reading frames and of several consensus splicing sequences was correlated with the location by EM and Sl digestion of the E4 mRNA. This correlation allows to suggest an additional splicing event in the maturation process of i or f mRNA and to deduce the structure of most E4 mRNA. The aminoacid sequences of the corresponding proteins are deduced allowing the location of several glycosylation sites. The presence of several open reading frames with a substantial coding capacity permits to postulate on the existence of additional genes located at the 3' end of the fiber gene and the 3' end of the E4 region. The existence of these putative additional genes might explain that termination of transcription is several hundred nucleotides beyond the main known poly A addition sites of the L5 and E4 regions.