Cleavage sites of the "P3 region" in the nonstructural polyprotein precursor of a dicistrovirus

Arch Virol. 2008;153(10):1955-60. doi: 10.1007/s00705-008-0208-5. Epub 2008 Sep 23.

Abstract

Plautia stali intestine virus (PSIV) is a member of the family Dicistroviridae. Dicistroviruses, like picornaviruses, are thought to encode a 3C-like protease; however, the cleavage sites of dicistroviral nonstructural polyprotein precursors are unknown except for those in genome-linked virus protein (VPg) regions. We expressed part of the PSIV polyprotein in Escherichia coli and detected autoprocessed viral proteins. N-terminal sequence analysis of the autoprocessed proteins showed that Q/GWLSW and Q/NGVFD in the PSIV sequence correspond to 2C/3A and 3C/3D cleavage sites in picornaviruses. Alignments of deduced amino acid sequences of the "P3 region" suggest that these cleavage sites can be predicted.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Escherichia coli / genetics
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Peptide Hydrolases / metabolism*
  • Picornaviridae / physiology*
  • Polyproteins / genetics
  • Polyproteins / metabolism*
  • Recombinant Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Viral Proteins / genetics
  • Viral Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Polyproteins
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Viral Proteins
  • Peptide Hydrolases