Replicase gene of coxsackievirus B3

Abstract

A cDNA copy covering two-thirds of the coxsackievirus B3 genome was cloned in the PstI site of the pBR322 vector. A nucleotide sequence containing the gene for the viral replicase and the 3' noncoding region of the coxsackievirus B3 genome was determined. The predicted amino acid sequence of the coxsackievirus B3 replicase was shown to be remarkably similar to that of the poliovirus 1 replicase. The 3' noncoding region, in contrast, was only weakly homologous to the poliovirus 1 sequence but showed a close relationship to the sequence of swine vesicular disease virus, a variant of coxsackievirus B5. A 13-nucleotide-long segment located near the polyadenylic acid junction is conserved in several members of the enterovirus group and may thus serve an important function during replication of viral RNA.